Illustration Friday - Simple

What could be more simple than a hug and a kiss? Sometimes that's all it takes to make everything better - from a scraped knee to a broken heart. In fact, research shows that affectionate contact with a romantic partner in the form of hand holding and hugging greatly reduces the effects of stress. In a 2003 study, researchers found that couples who spent ten minutes holding hands followed by a twenty second hug not only had lower heartbeats during subsequent stressful situations, but also had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and higher levels of serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters associated with pleasurable sensations.

In honor of St. Valentine's Day, I offer you some photoshopped Hugs and Kisses with nods to Robert Indiana and Andy Warhol.