…not James Bond
David Letterman interviewing Michael Douglas on CBS.
Michael Douglas never played James Bond during his film career, but we all learned something about the actor a few weeks ago that makes him MUCH cooler than James Bond could ever be. Michael Douglas believes in bonding!
I admit I may be extrapolating a bit, but I bet if Douglas knew what bonding was, he'd believe in it. In a recent interview with David Letterman on national television, Douglas announced that he has stage four throat cancer. In the final televised moments, Letterman said, "I feel like I wanna do something for ya. Can I do something for ya?" The response was not typical Hollywood. Rather than encouraging Letterman to donate money to a foundation or suggesting that everyone have regular cancer screenings, he asked for a hug. Click this link to see the clip.
Why, you may ask, does this make Douglas more "fly" than James Bond? Because hugs heal. It's that simple.
Studies confirm that heart to heart hugs have a positive biological effect on our bodies. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill researchers discovered that hugs decrease the risk of heart disease and increase the "bonding" hormone oxytocin. The study further determined that women experienced a decrease in the stress hormone, cortisol, and lower blood pressure. Researcher, Tiffany Field who conducts studies through the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami Medical School explains in a USA Today interview, "This is the latest of many studies suggesting humans are 'hard-wired' to thrive as social animals."
The United States is not winning the touchy-feely race, though. One of Field's studies determined that French couples touch three times more in public than American couples. It seems, culturally speaking, we're a bit resistant to feeling good and allowing the healing benefits of bonding. We must not know what we're missing!
Science has proven the very earliest attachment, created through bonding, has a profound effect on our physical and psychological beings for years to come. Dr. Rene Spitz witnessed this truth through his studies. He focused attention on orphanages, where one third of babies who were not bonded with, despite being well fed and receiving appropriate medical attention, died. The babies died because they didn't have a simple biological need met. Bonding is essential to our survival. And when we don't get this need met during our earliest development, if we survive, the results manifest in our future mental, social, and physical health.
If the science isn't enough to convince you to reach out and touch someone, consider what it feels like to be hugged by someone you love. When a person you care about, and feel comfortable with embraces you with genuine openness and heart to heart contact, what happens in your own body? Can you feel your breathing shift? What happens to your face? How about your shoulders?
I didn't grow up as a hugger. I would say it's only been in the past 12-15 years that I've changed my tune. And while I will never save the world like James Bond, I'm healing myself, and the people I care about, one loving hug at a time. Much cooler, don't you think? I bet Michael Douglas would agree.
Sending you a big hug,
Joanne Lutz