Andrea Hylen

In 1978, I took one of the college courses that impacted and touched the deepest part of me. I was studying at Temple University with the focus of graduating with a BSW (Social Work degree). The course was simply called, “Human Sexuality,” and it made sense that this would reinforce the internships I had at the Women’s Health Concerns Committee and Planned Parenthood that year.

One of the powerful quotes shared in the class was from Virginia Satir, an author and family therapist.

“We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.” ~Virginia Satir

Our physical body needs touch in order to survive, maintain and grow!

That year at Christmas, I encouraged, coaxed and persuaded all of my boyfriend’s brothers and sisters to get up and hug each other after each person opened a present. I felt the importance of connection through hugging and touch. I was passionate about this wisdom that had been shared by Virginia Satir and I felt a full embodied YES! I felt the deep truth in her wisdom.

Between the ages of 21 and 48, there was no question that hugs and more hugs were shared with me throughout the day. I had a boyfriend, friends and family with regular hugs and touching. Then, I had a husband, children and home schooled in community based learning and all of the hugging was overflowing. 

Then something happened that changed everything. My husband died, my  oldest daughters moved out of the house, my youngest child was a teenager and my daily activities were with strangers. It was common to have long periods of time without hugging. Long periods of time when I was alone and I would even say that there was a part of my voice that became silent.

I now live in a house with six other people. One of the experiences I am having is the natural amount of hugging that happens throughout the day. I am becoming aware of what is opening in me. The power of touch is opening my intuition, deepening my purpose, and expanding my voice.

More to come soon…