I Wanna Hold Your Hand

No matter the day, no matter the weather, no matter the mood…it has become a ritual that every time I pick up my daughters from school, one of them (if not both) reaches for my hand. As we walk to our car hand-in-hand, there is a current of sheer joy running through my body. Without saying anything, our hand holding communicates on behalf of our hearts…

(1) Does it get better than this?

(2) I am here for you, no matter what.

(3) I love you, and you love me.

I get practically misty-eyed in these moments because absolutely nothing stands between us. The surge of affection is electric, capacious, and contagious. I've read hugs, if given and/or received for longer than 6 seconds, promote the flow of serotonin and oxytocin. I believe holding hands has precisely the same effect. Good feelings induce the flow of our body's natural "happy" chemicals, creating even more good feelings!

In a lecture I once attended, the speaker said when we respond to those around us, our heart cells entrain upon each other…creating rapport. In our home, we begin the day with hugs before we send our little peeps out into the world. And so it seems now, our daughters seek to "sync" back up with us upon their return. It is a simple pleasure really, but few beat it. However fleeting this exchange might be, I'll seek out every opportunity I can to hug, hold hands, and take refuge in this rapport…because I suspect, one day in the not-too-distant future, these will be some of my clearest and happiest memories.