My personal Free Hugs story:Early last summer, someone sent me a link to a video. The consequences of such an apparently innocuous everyday occurrence now spills out across these pages. This was that unimagined catalyst...
As I sat staring at the screen, my smile broadened and tears welled in my eyes. In fact, I probably watched the video close to half a dozen times in a similar state, until only the smile remained.I was so moved by the message and the humanity behind this discovery, I felt an overwhelming urge to experience this myself. A few weeks later, I made up my own sign and walked onto the streets of Bath, UK. The response was nothing short of extraordinary. [My first blog captures this moment.]I don't suppose it was ever really my intention for it to be more than a one-off; a bit of light-hearted fun. But something had truly clicked inside me. On its simplest level, this brings smiles to peoples' faces, but underneath that, there are those people who really need a hug. Some of these experiences, and the truly moving things that people have said to me... they will live with me forever.These images [full size] and many more appear in the blogs...
Since this journey began I've become a good friend of the remarkable spirit that is Juan Mann; a man whose sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their lives. It's an honour to have befriended him, and he has now become my metaphorical antipodean brother in arms!The impact on my own life has been unprecedented: I’ve since been out to Bath numerous times – and while you begin to know what to expect on each trip out, every person somehow brings a unique experience, and every visit inevitably provides a memory I will never forget.This is what it is to be truly... Hugh Mann : )
