Kissing

It’s the new year and time to focus on what is important.   I suggest we stress the importance of kisses.  I’m reminded of this importance after finding in my basement book stacks "Kisses" edited by Lena Tabori (Citadel Press/Turner Publishing 128 pp. 1991).  Here is an account of that book. 

(begin) Remember the old movies, where the steamiest moment was when the lovers kissed – and “lovers” didn’t just mean “consenting adults?” In fact, the lovers often weren’t consenting. They fought the sentiment, tooth and nail – ignoring, avoiding, denying – until that first passionate kiss that admitted everything. 

“Kisses” celebrates smooches with still photos from classic films: Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr entwined on the beach in “From Here to Eternity,” Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy finding new sparring ground in “Woman of the Year,” Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh on the road to Tara. Unburdened by explanatory text, the only words here are the pertinent film lines, guaranteed to bring out the romantic in anyone. 

For example, street-wise Sugarpuss O’Shea’s (Barbara Stanwyck) speech from “Ball of Fire” when she realizes she’s fallen for the unlikeliest specimen: “Yes, I love him. I love the hick shirts he wears and the boiled cuffs and the way he always has his vest buttoned wrong. He looks like a giraffe, and I love him. I love him because he’s the kind of guy who gets drunk on a glass of buttermilk, and I love the way he blushes right up over his ears. I love him because he doesn’t know how to kiss – the jerk! I love him, Joe. That’s what I’m trying to tell ya.” (end)

Furthermore: (begin) For anyone wondering why do we kiss, the perks are many. During kissing, our bodies release the "feel-good" hormones of dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins. Oxytocin, known as the "love hormone," promotes bonding and helps reduce stress. Meanwhile, serotonin and dopamine boost contentment and excitement and endorphins can ease pain. 

Kissing builds intimacy between partners, reinforces emotional bonds and increases feelings of love and affection.  "As the saying goes, 'couples who kiss more, stay together longer.'" It takes six seconds of kissing for oxytocin to be triggered and released.

Kissing is one of the most exciting things about starting a new relationship. That first kiss with someone new is electric. It sets off emotional fireworks and stimulates feel-good sensations throughout your brain. But is kissing important in the grand scheme of your relationship?

A kiss can mean so many different things. It can be a greeting, a sign of passion, an apology, or a sweet and innocent gesture. Kissing is how you connect with your partner, reduce stress, and boost trust in a romantic relationship. No matter which kind of kiss you’re used to giving, a simple peck can do so much for you.

A kiss is important in a relationship for several reasons. Firstly, it serves as a powerful form of non-verbal communication, conveying affection, love, and passion. Kissing fosters intimacy, helping couples bond emotionally and physically, and strengthening the emotional connection between partners. It releases feel-good hormones like oxytocin, promoting a sense of trust and security.

Moreover, kissing is a way to express desire and attraction, keeping the romantic spark alive. It adds excitement and novelty to the relationship, making couples feel desired and wanted. The importance of kissing in a relationship is further emphasized when you take into consideration that it also plays a role in sexual arousal and foreplay, enhancing overall physical intimacy.

Beyond the physical aspects, kissing helps partners gauge compatibility and chemistry. A good kiss can be a sign of emotional and physical compatibility, building anticipation for deeper emotional connections and shared experiences. Overall, a kiss in a relationship acts as a foundational pillar, contributing to the happiness, satisfaction, and longevity of the partnership.

Is kissing important? Absolutely! Whether you’re using a kiss as a way to connect with someone you’re romantically interested in or as a greeting to a friend or family member, kissing has a host of emotional, mental, and physical benefits to your health. (end)

When I perform a marriage ceremony, I always remind the couple about the importance of kissing.  That generally leads to a laugh and chuckles from the pews.  I’ve never referenced the book “Kisses,” but I’m tempted to suggest the couple reenact some of the movie scenes to keep the love fires burning.  

So, this new year let’s all pucker up and let our kisses reveal who we are and what we feel for those close to us.

Deacon David Pierce