Lets cuddle

Get your cuddle on

Is there a stage in life when cuddling stops? If you have children, pets and a physically affectionate partner (not always a given) then you may not know this, but for many people, there comes a time when cuddling just drops away. And by cuddling I don’t mean sex. I mean a good old-fashioned cuddle.

Children do it naturally when they snuggle up. Partners spoon, dogs rest their faithful heads on a knee, cats sit on laps. But the solitary and the isolated may find that they simply don’t get cuddled the way they used to. In hospitals, retirement villages and homes across the land there may not be a lot of life affirming, heartwarming cuddling going on. A massage could well be the closest anyone might get to the warmth and sustenance of physical contact. In these Non-Physical-Contact, lock down days it getting worse.

But we all need our cuddles. A lot. When you cuddle, the body releases the hormone oxytocin which calms you down, lowers your blood pressure, soothes you and reduces stress. Humans know this instinctively when we place an arm over a shoulder, stroke someone’s hair or put a hand on a hand.

I have researched cuddles and am in a position to inform you there are various cuddling styles: These are:

· The spoon – needs no explanation

· The half spoon (entwined but not so close)

· The cheek to cheek (butts together, bodies facing away)

· The honeymoon hug (really, really intertwined – possibly only for the newly in love)

· The sweetheart cradle (head on partner’s chest)

· Leg hug (legs intertwined bodies free)

· Butt pillow (resting head on partner’s butt)

· The lap pillow (resting head in partner’s lap)

· The arms draped (arms and bodies entwined, heads close)

One wonders how this data was gathered. Was a bespectacled scientist sitting discreetly in the bedrooms of the masses? Were they trying to look inconspicuous in their white coat and clipboard? Did a small smile cross their face from time to time as they recognised a particular cuddling style? Did they go home and say to their partners I saw some excellent cuddling today? Mind you the couple at number 73 could really do with some lessons?

The main message is everyone needs a jolly good cuddle. Especially in these dark times. So, get your cuddle on, folks!