Are you Gutsy enough to give a stranger a “Free Hug”?
I’m spending a mini-vacation with my husband in Ojai, California, and met this “Gutsy” man at the Farmers’ Market on Sunday morning.
He seemed friendly and gentle, so I had to find out:
Why was he offering “Free Hugs?”
After we hugged, I had this burning desire to interview him. I needed to find out the: who, what, where, when and why?
The first thing he said was, “I have the best job in the whole world.”
Sonia getting her “Free Hug” in Ojai, California.
That struck me as odd, and I started thinking, “Is he getting paid to hug?” if so, am I supposed to donate money. I don’t see a hat or a box on the ground for collecting coins, besides it does say, “Free Hugs.”
Something strange happened to me during our hug. I started thinking how one simple hug can connect two strangers. Imagine if we could start a hugging revolution, and transform the world.
There’s something special about a hug; it bonds humanity.
After receiving a warm hug, I asked him more questions.
“I hear so many stories from people I hug,” he said.
“Can you give me one example,” I asked, always looking for a good story.
“This morning a woman collapsed on my shoulder and told me her husband passed away last Wednesday. She said she longed for a human touch.”
I thought about how this man shows up every Sunday from 10am-1pm to comfort lonely people, some who are grieving, others who are longing for a human to show they care. He does have an important “job.”
The man told me there’s a worldwide movement to give, “Free Hugs” and that I can Google it. So I did when I got back to my room at the Blue Iguana Inn.
The Blue Iguana Inn, Ojai, California.
I found this video, and explanation of the “Free Hugs” worldwide movement.
The Free Hugs Campaign is a social movement involving individuals who offer hugs to strangers in public places.[1] The hugs are meant to be random acts of kindness – selfless acts performed just to make others feel better.
I think you have to be “Gutsy” to stand on a street and offer “Free Hugs.”
Are you Gutsy enough to give a stranger a “Free Hug”?
Merry Christmas to all of you.
My Christmas gift was a nice surprise from the London Book Festival, where my memoir received an honorable mention under Biography/Autobiography
