Good and Kissed

When was the last time you were decently kissed? I mean, truly, truly, good and kissed?

Remember that line from “That Thing You Do?” I think about that line a lot. Maybe too much so. I’m a kisser.  I’m super touchy-feely. I don’t even really notice it, but I am.  There’s no denying it.  

(There might be a spoiler coming up so watch yourself if you hate them, you know who you are). Last night, there was a great kiss on TV.  One of those stop-you-in-your-tracks, shake-you-down-to-your-toes-kisses. One of those kisses where you stay up all night thinking about it. Where the base of your spine tingles when you stop and remember the magic.  

Yep, one of those.  

I can remember almost every detail of the first time the MS kissed me.  It. Was. Electric.  I remember what we were wearing, where we were, what day of the week, time of day. I still think about that and remember that it knocked my socks off. He said that I kissed him, but that’s simply not true. I wanted to, but I wasn’t the one who made the move. It was him and it was brilliant – like, technicolor brilliant.

Why is this so important? Is it just me? I think we spend so much of our time working, mothering, wife-ing, social media-ing, we don’t get any real “face” time. When we do, it reminds us that we need and desire both physical and emotional intimacy.  As much as some of us would like to deny it, human beings require intimacy. Which is why simple physical affections- such as hand-holding, back scratching, hugs and kisses are important to your relationship.

The MS often remarks that I am a nicer person when I have a good dose of affection.

He’s not wrong.

Some kissing statistics that are important to know.

• Passionate kissing relieves tension, reduces negative energy and produces a sense of well-being, lowering your cortisol ‘stress’ hormone.
• Kissing uses 30 facial muscles and it helps keep the facial muscles tight, preventing baggy cheeks! The tension in the muscles caused by a passionate kiss helps smooth the skin and increases the circulation.
• Those who kiss their partner goodbye each morning live five years longer than those who don’t. Kiss more, live longer.
• Kissing makes you feel appreciated and helps your state of mind.
• Kissing is good for the heart, as it creates an adrenaline which causes your heart to pump more blood around your body. Frequent kissing has scientifically been proven to stabilize cardiovascular activity, decrease blood pressure and cholesterol.
• Those who kiss quite frequently are less likely to suffer from stomach, bladder and blood infections.
• During a kiss, natural antibiotics are secreted in the saliva. Also, the saliva contains a type of anesthetic that helps relieve pain.
• Kissing reduces anxiety and stops the ‘noise’ in your mind. It increases the levels of oxytocin, an extremely calming hormone that produces a feeling of peace.
• The endorphins produced by kissing are 200 times more powerful than morphine.

As we approach Valentine’s Day, I think it’s important to put kissing – deep, close-your-eyes-tight kissing, back on your to-do list.  Find someone new, old, familiar, repurposed, whatever and pucker up people!