What memories bring you comfort, hope, and peace?

Memories can shape our being, influence our decisions, and stimulate our emotions. Combining all our memories forms the basis of who we are.

I grew up in the 1970s. If I hear a song by The Carpenters, Chicago, or Elton John, it can take me back to a time when I was at a high school dance with my girlfriend, hanging out with my friends, or practicing basketball.

Our childhood Christmas Eve activities of going to mass, eating pizza, and opening gifts from our parents (usually consisting of a new robe, slippers, and pajamas) are memories passed on and incorporated into my family's holiday traditions.

Even certain smells can elicit unforgettable memories. A turkey roasting in the oven reminds me of how the entire house smelled on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Walking into a bakery and catching a whiff of the cookies and pastries right out of the oven reminds me of my first job as part of a bakery clean-up crew scouring the room where the bakers assembled and concocted those delicious treats. Smelling the odor of perspiration and analgesic ointment takes me back to those thousands of days I spent in a hot, humid, and sweaty gymnasium trying to perfect my basketball game.

Memories provide us with so many benefits. According to memory research at Harvard University, memories can:

1. Help us understand the present - Memories can help us understand how the past has shaped our current situation. 

2. Guide our future - Memories can help us plan for the future by providing a framework for understanding the past and future. 

3. Foster gratitude - Remembering the past can help us be thankful for the present.

4. Help us make informed decisions - Episodic memories can show us how past experiences might shape our future.

5. Help us appreciate our achievements - Reflections on our past can help us understand our successes.    

Happy memories are essential for our mental health. They strengthen our sense of purpose and bond us to institutions and other people. They also provide a framework by which we can understand our past and map out our future. 

Be the architect of your good memories. By doing so, those memories will allow you to live, grow, and make meaningful connections with others. 

Please comment on the importance of creating lasting and happy memories. Your thoughts and ideas are valuable, and I enjoy reading your perspectives. 
 

When was the last time you hugged someone or received a hug from someone?

One of the most significant health benefits I receive at the University of Colorado Hospital Cancer Center Infusion, in addition to the medication I'm given for my cancer, are hugs from the caring and compassionate nurses and medical assistants who treat me.

No matter how bad I feel, a good hug always lifts my spirits and makes me feel better.

According to RJWBarnabas Health, the largest academic health care system in New Jersey, research shows there are numerous health benefits from hugging another person:  

- Hugs lower blood pressure and heart rate and improve cardiovascular function.

- Hugs decrease cortisol, making you less stressed and improving your sleep.

- Hugs boost the brain chemical oxytocin (known as the love or cuddle hormone) in our bodies, which is associated with feeling happier and more connected. 

- Hugs, or any social touch, can boost serotonin and dopamine levels, and release endorphins—the “feel good” hormones and natural pain relievers. Endorphins are most commonly associated with exercise (think of the “runner’s high”). However, we can still get that instant mood boost from hugs.

- Hugs help balance your body, temporarily reducing chronic pain and strengthening the immune system.  

- Hugs help to reduce anxiety and make people feel safer. 

To get a hug's mental and physical benefits, ask first and ensure the hug lasts approximately twenty seconds.

A person should aim to receive 8-12 firm hugs daily.  Incidentally, if you don't want to hug another person, hugging your pet can generate the same positive results.

Please leave me a comment about your thoughts regarding hugging. Your opinions and insight are valuable, and I enjoy hearing from you.