Free Hugs Campaign
Posted by jahothanan on December 7, 2008
This is really funny and kind of cool.
Here is what it says on the official website at http://www.freehugscampaign.org/:
“How it all started:
I’d been living in London when my world turned upside down and I’d had to come home. By the time my plane landed back in Sydney, all I had left was a carry on bag full of clothes and a world of troubles. No one to welcome me back, no place to call home. I was a tourist in my hometown.
Standing there in the arrivals terminal, watching other passengers meeting their waiting friends and family, with open arms and smiling faces, hugging and laughing together, I wanted someone out there to be waiting for me. To be happy to see me. To smile at me. To hug me.
So I got some cardboard and a marker and made a sign. I found the busiest pedestrian intersection in the city and held that sign aloft, with the words “Free Hugs” on both sides.
And for 15 minutes, people just stared right through me. The first person who stopped, tapped me on the shoulder and told me how her dog had just died that morning. How that morning had been the one year anniversary of her only daughter dying in a car accident. How what she needed now, when she felt most alone in the world, was a hug. I got down on one knee, we put our arms around each other and when we parted, she was smiling.
Everyone has problems and for sure mine haven’t compared. But to see someone who was once frowning, smile even for a moment, is worth it every time.”
homelessgirl said
I love this campaign and its spread like wildfire.
Actually I got a hug from one of the people in Regent’s park London. It was very warm and snuggly, totally made my day!
jahothanan said
I thought is might be fun to do something like this. Go out and hold a Free Hugs sign. Who knows, maybe I’ll do it one of these days.
MeSueZ said
I saw this video a 1-2 years ago when I was looking for a poem that we used to have on our refrigerator. I really like the idea. Sometimes I really need a hug, but it is hard to ask for one, especially when you are a girl and most your friends are guys. If I was at home I would be able to hug my mom or cuddle with my dog, but pets are not aloud in the dorms. This is why I am looking for an apartment that allows pets, however those are hard to find.
Jahothanan said
“Sometimes I really need a hug, but it is hard to ask for one, especially when you are a girl and most your friends are guys”
Yikes. That’s sad.
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