Free Love

The first time I saw a group of people standing in the middle of Times Square with "free hugs" signs, waving to me to come over, I thought, "No. No thanks."

Who goes around hugging strangers at random?

Well, Australian Juan Mann inspired a movement. He'd returned home from a stay in London, realizing that he was lonely, with no one to welcome him back. He wanted someone there at the Sydney airport, happy to see him, greeting him with a hug. So he got a cardboard and made a sign: Free Hugs. The first person who came up to him told him how her dog had died that morning and that the same day was also the one-year anniversary of her only daughter dying in a car accident. He gave her a hug.

His movement that day has mushroomed--from San Francisco (they LOVE to hug there) to Madrid and, yes, even New York. He's even been on Oprah.

Speaking of New York, guess who joined huggers there yesterday in Union Square (Man, I'm getting soft in my middle age) and passed out some love to strangers?

Yes, some people gave me the "go somewhere" look and others told me that they already had a mate. ("Ok, I didn't ask you all that.") Surprisingly, a lot of people wanted hugs, particularly after I offered a second or third time. Many who didn't smiled and laughed as they walked past. Of course, I had some effective lines: "You know you want it! Hey, it's non-fattening!"

Truth be told, I've been more than a little stressed these last months, so I'm not feeling like a Crunchy Granola all the time. (A friend of 20 years said to me, "You don't seem like the hugging type." Ha!) Nevertheless, I realize that no one can have too many hugs.

You know you want some!

NOTE: Check your local ordinances before organizing an event as some governments have arrested people huggers.