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To Hug or Not to Hug | Free Hugs | Juan Mann

Posted by Luvy Love

To Hug or Not to Hug | Free Hugs | Juan Mann

Article from violawoolcott.com from 2007

Don’t we all have the right to choose and to define our own boundaries in this area?

When I was quite young, I tried avoiding hugging whenever it was possible and that even includes family gatherings.

How little did I know – I wasn’t even old enough to consider what situations may transpire before I hug a…boy. And hugging girls? No chance. Just forget it!

Years and years later I learned to enjoy the openness, the honesty of embracing the once you love, family, friends and yes, even the once who “needed” it – no matter if male or female. Even if only for a few minutes, most of the time hugs are a non-sexual way of joining, of supporting, of giving and receiving, of becoming one.

For sure, there are different kinds of hugs, just as there are without doubt many kinds of different kisses. It all depends on the intention. There are hugs and kisses, hot passionate clinches or a squeeze of someone’s shoulder and even just friendly pats on the back. A-Frames, melding hugs, quick hugs and hugs that stay with you for longer… and make you sigh…and there are also some of us who love hugging trees (me included). The hug is a form of for example caring, connection, greeting, farewell, affection, affirmation, gratitude, very different from culture to culture.

For some of us hugging requires a leap of faith, an act of courage. They are quick to reach out and offer one of these handshakes that range from the tepid fingertip hold to iron grasp…well, at a distance anyway. For reasons of their own some of us stay uncomfortable with hugging in particular when it comes to the opposite (or same for that matter) gender.

Sometimes, a hug is all what we need and not so long ago “Juan Mann” conducted a daring experiment offering “Hugs for Free”. It was his sole mission to reach out, hug a stranger and brighten up their lives. In these days of social disconnectivity and lack of human contact, the effects of the Free Hugs campaign became phenomenal.

I am sure that most have watched the video, but for those that haven’t, witness the true spirit of humanity coming together in what can only be described as awe inspiring.