FREE HUGS CAMPAIGN

Free Hugs Campaign information: http://www.freehugscampaign.org/

Sometimes, a hug is all what we need.

Free hugs is a real life controversial story of Juan Mann, A man whos sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their lives.

In this age of social disconnectivity and lack of human contact, the effects of the Free Hugs campaign became phenomenal.

As this symbol of human hope spread accross the city, police and officials ordered the Free Hugs campaign BANNED. What we then witness is the true spirit of humanity come together in what can only be described as awe inspiring.

In the Spirit of the free hugs campaign, PASS THIS TO A FRIEND and HUG A STRANGER! After all, If you can reach just one person

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.

Why Did it get banned?

Public liability fear and red tape. But its all okay now! Make sure tocheck your local laws before embarking on your Hugathon!

Special Thanks

I would just like to thank Sickpuppies for their incredible song "All the Same " which the free hugs campaign video would have never been the same without.

For their music visit www.sickpuppies.net !


FREE HUGS AROUND THE WORLD!!!

Original Campaign Video:


Free Hugs NYC


Free Hugs Korea


Free Hugs Amsterdam


Free Hugs California


Free Hugs Scotland


Free Hugs Austrialia



Free Hugs China


Free Hugs Israel


Free Hugs Peru



Free Hugs Venezuela


Free Hugs London


Free Hugs Italy


Free Hugs Budarest


Free Hugs Tel Aviv


Free Hugs Canada

Quick catch up

So, the Friday before Christmas I went up to my dad's house in Middle Earth. (really the poconos but with road names like Rivendell Drive, Old Took Road, Gollum Caves, Hobbit Road, and Mirkwood Ave (to name a few) it's become Middle Earth) The house is gorgeous! I know he's so proud of himself, and he should be. He kept telling me that he's glad I like it because I'm going to inherit it someday. When Zac complained, Cathy's response was - 'Well you can buy her out of her half then.' He was none too pleased, but we decided to see where each of us are in life 40 or so years from now, and we'd make a decision then.

We went exploring, which was fun with dad - though both Cathy and Zac were whiny whenever things didn't go exactly there way. (picture energizer bunny beating things with hammer <-- been doing this a lot lately)
I introduced Zac to cinniamon and sugar covered almonds. :) We had pizza and watched O Brother Where Art Thou? It's hysterical if you ever get the chance to watch it. It's Zac's favorite movie after Scarface.
Cathy was good until she decided to verbally attack me by saying that I was nothing and have done nothing and have nothing because I don't have a 4 year degree - and that she doesn't want my brother to be a screw up like me. I snapped. I tore her up one side and down the other. My grandmother just sat there. My dad just sat there. I think they were surprised that I snapped. And what pissed me off even more is that she was so calm and cool about it. She just sat there with this malicious grin (oh look I found a hot button) and shrugged saying, "well I want better for my son." I haven't wanted to hit someone so badly in years. If I had my car (I took the Greyhound) I probably would have left.
Otherwise tho, it was a lot of fun.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day I was on my own. No family (unless you count 8 minutes on the phone). However, Christmas Eve I contacted my friend kier_wyldwynd and we went to see Sweeney Todd. It was FABULOUS! I can't get it out of my head! Loved it, loved it loved it. Now I want to read the book, and see all the other variation and read the history. Yee Rah! We went to Denny's and just hung out afterwards. It was awesome.

The day after Christmas I went down to Williamsburg with justinian_t and his wife. Met t_bard and suba_al_hadid down there.

Lots of dancing. Lots of talkign about dance... sorry t_bard and suba_al_hadid, but you kept asking questions with long complicated answers.

Agreed that I belong on the island of misfit toys...with them! ;) who all wants to join us? I'm the doll that dances ECD! lol

Saw some good shows, though I'd like to get back to see a few more.

And MOST important (in fact why I missed some of the shows) talked to enough re-enactors to get sources and information necessary for my novel. This includes holding and being SHOWN how surgical tools were used, the differences between city and country doctors, home medicine, common medicine, science and the like. I was also given LOTS of cool resources to look up. (squee!)

New Years Eve tested myself for some medical triggers.

New Years Day - recovered from a hellish New Years Eve.

Fenced Wednesday - that was cool. Needed to be around people. And thank you ianraven for the awesome hug. I SO needed it. (still from when my car died, at night, in the cold, 100 feet from the mechanics)

Thursday was informed that my presidential candidate - Joe Biden - withdrew from the race...still trying to wrap my head around it. I take some comfort in the fact that he's the Chairman for the Senate Foreign Relations Committe... but we really need him domestically too. *sigh*

Today, just muddling through. Played the recorder a bit. MUST practice the violin later. Might go to the karaoke bar.

And that's a wrap!


BTW, I did tell him. He wasn't that interested. But he is interested in doing more things with me and Stefan (his other brother). He said it'll be like when we were kids. I like that.