Hug a Liberal Today — We Need All the Love We Can Get

I used to be a hugger.

A tree hugger and a people hugger. Definitely before COVID. And before about a fourth of the U.S. voting population, who actually voted, lost its entire mind this year.

That’s right. I’m one of those people. I believe in climate change and climate warming. I like trees and wild animals and prefer they not die in wildfires or be eliminated for more high rise apartment and office buildings.

I believe children should be housed and fed, wherever they live on the planet. I even, (gasp) believe in vaccines to keep those children and the rest of us safe. You know the type. You know who I voted for.

And frankly, I could use some hugs right about now.

Trees are great to hug, sure. Before you ask — I know you’re curious — yes I can feel their energy flowing through as I hug them. I’m that kind of tree hugger. The kind that spiritually and physically communes with whichever tree I chain myself to as the bulldozers pull up.

Or maybe I‘m just feeling tree sap. Still.

The problem with tree hugging, is trees can’t hug back. Trees are also a tad barky. Their skin is rough and scaly, not unlike some people, but much more so.

And they don’t actually have arms to hug back with. I know some cartoons and CGI — which is all we had in the dark ages before AI — make their branches look like arms. But, trust me, while they may snag you like in a creepy fairy tale, they can’t hug you. I’ve tried.

Image from author’s IStock license

And frankly, I could use some hugs right about now

I have felt snuggled by a tree when I climbed into its branches as a kid to hide out and read. It was a precarious, scratchy snuggle, but at least I felt safe from bullies and anyone I didn’t want to see me or make me stop reading and climb down.

I’m still a tree hugger, and I’ll hug some people, but I’m more particular about which people I hug now.

I no longer feel safe hugging all people. Especially politicians. Not just because they may not be vaccinated against diseases that cripple and kill, although that’s reason enough.

I don’t want MAGA cooties.

Also, because if one of them hugs me, they’re most likely stabbing me in the back at the same time. Heck, they’re even stabbing each other in the back right now.

So at a time when we progressive liberals are feeling particularly sad and lonely, needing more hugs, not fewer, we have to be on guard about who hugs us.

Which is a problem.

As author and family therapist Virginia Satir said,

“We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance.” — Virginia Satir

That means we need twelve hugs to feel almost human, and sixteen hugs to start to thrive. That’s a lot of hugs.

Liberals aren’t the only ones needing hugs right now. It appears the current majority politicians and their minions don’t get nearly enough hugs to come close to feeling/being human.

Fortunately, I know at least twelve to sixteen progressive liberals to hug, albeit they’re scattered around the country, making getting those hugs problematic. I’m willing to hug a few neo-liberals at a stretch. Their hearts are in the right place, even if they’re a little confused.

I’ll continue to make up for the dearth of huggage by hugging trees. As long as we still have enough trees to go around for everyone to hug, after cutting 3.5 billion to 7 billion trees each year. That’s a lot of trees.

Which is a problem.

Because hugging trees increases oxytocin in humans. That’s the feel-good hormone responsible for bonding between humans. Oxytocin makes us like one another more.

When we can no longer hug trees, there will be less oxytocin flowing in our veins, and we will like other people less. Even less than we do now.

Which is terrifying. So hurry! Hug a tree, then plant another one. Plant more. HUG ALL THE TREES. Get that oxytocin flowing.

And while you’re at it, hug a liberal. Maybe even a neo-liberal. Heck, even hug a MAGA. Heaven knows they need more oxytocin to act human. Just watch your back.

Carol Lennox is a psychotherapist, public speaker, and writer. She leans as far left as possible without falling over. She has been a mindfulness practitioner and an anti-racist since before they were cool. She prefers to write humor, but the condition of our world often requires more direct approaches.

Get an email whenever Carol Lennox publishes.

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