I need a Hug!

This morning, I found myself feeling emotionally hollow. I know that I matter deeply to my clients. I know that they love me, appreciate me, and value the work we do together. But in my personal life, I didn’t feel that way today.

For over two and a half years, I’ve spent most of my time in hospitals, care facilities, or homebound. And while I’m deeply grateful for technology that helps me stay connected, it’s not the same as being in a room with someone.

It’s not the same as real laughter shared face-to-face. It’s not the same as holding hands. And it’s definitely not the same as a long, heartfelt hug.

So this morning, I turned to science—because sometimes, it helps me make sense of the ache in my heart. Did you know that when we hug someone for more than 20 seconds, our bodies release oxytocin, often called the “love hormone”? This incredible chemical lowers stress, reduces blood pressure, boosts immune function, and creates a deep sense of safety and belonging.

Hugs also reduce cortisol, the stress hormone that fuels anxiety and depression. They stimulate dopamine, our brain’s reward center, giving us a feeling of pleasure and hope. They also activate serotonin, which helps regulate mood and reduce sadness.

A simple hug… can be a full-body, full-heart healing event. And yet, so many people live without them.

I think of those who are surrounded by people and yet feel unseen. I think of the elderly in rest homes, forgotten by the world they helped build. And I feel both ungrateful—because I am remembered—and heartbroken for those who aren't.

Mother Teresa once said, “Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the greatest poverty.” This morning, I felt that poverty in my bones.

So if today you are feeling unseen, untouched, or unloved—I want you to know this: You are not alone. I see you. I’ve been you.

And I also know this—when I reach out to someone else who may be even more alone than I am, my pain begins to soften. My self-pity begins to melt into purpose. And my loneliness transforms into a bridge of connection.

If you're feeling loved today, go give a hug to someone who needs it. And if you're feeling unloved, I invite you to be brave—reach out. Send a message. Ask for a conversation. Open your arms. Because sometimes, it takes just one hug to change everything. And sometimes… that hug has to start with you.

So here’s mine. Right now. A warm, lingering, soul-honoring hug—from me to you. Virtual is definitely not as powerful as physical, but I am sending it with every bit of the real emotion that would accompany the physical hug I wish I could give you right now.

Let’s not just talk about love. 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘁.

📌 Connect with me directly to start your personalized journey to freedom and alignment: adalloyd.com/calendar