Free hugs - Give me a hug

I read an article in newspapaer and come upon to this real life story. Check out this guy, Juan Mann's site, and below is what I quoted from that site:

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 to check your local laws before embarking on your Hugathon!


I think in Asia culture, we all hard to give each other a hug. Actually, hugs really give you the feeling of warmth and welcome. Even sometime when you feeling down, a hug can give you a refreshing. I think most of the Malaysian still can't get used to the hug you give. I got a hug when I was in US. The feeling is a bit strange, however, if you break the barrier and try to accept the others hug, you will start to feel that it is different. It is a way to show that you really take care of others and concern about the others by giving a simple and priceless hug.

I give some hugs to my friends when I was back from US. They all were shocked, stunned, and a bit of rejection. May be the culture is different. However, I feel that hugging is a natural way to break the human disconnectivity that happen nowadays.

So, just give me a hug. My hug is free too!