Afraid? Need some kindness?

I wanna hug somebody 🙂

You’re right as usual! Very Inspiring!

OK, I’m sitting here smiling!

I loved it! Thank you. (I got your OD from Iget2bme. She said I would like you.)

Terrific! Thanks for making me feel warm all over.

Tears all around. That is the guy I wanna marry. The one who gives free hugs to everyone. Happy sigh. I was already happy, but this video made my heart feel good. Made. My. Day. Thank you for sharing.

geez! how could people NOT hug him? he freakin’ looks like JESUS CHRIST! i woulda got down on my knees and started begging for forgiveness for all of my sins… well, okay, not ALL of ’em… :0P (g)

tear up? I had em streaming down my face. At first for a world too scared to hug, and then for the beautiful ability of each one of us to break down anything and make the world a better place. Would you mind if I link to this vid? I want to show my faves too. ~ryn~ for you by request … how could I refuse :0) …

p.s. Great song, too. Loving it!

Thanks for the lifted spirits. I despise you when you’re right. *smooches to you* Love Red

*grinning* / is it as simple as that? / is that the answer? / do we just need to love one another? / where have i heard that before??? thank you for this reminder!!!

Phoenix sent me over here…. and I’m so glad she did. The hug video was so touching, and I did tear up. And now I want a hug! Thank you so much.

You’re just one of a kind! (((HUG)))

🙂 Heartwarming.

I really needed that tonight as I struggle with my work environment. Thanks, Nunz.

You just won the OD diary feel-good entry of the day! Was that Jesus?

I tried to hug a coworker this weekend when I went to see her daughter in a play and I was congratulating her. She shirked away like I was assaulting her. *sigh*

Wow- that’s all I can say. Thank you for sharing this!

Fabulous!!!!!!! 🙂 And yes… it made me smile 🙂

It does take up most of my days and a good chunk of my nights — fussing about how you are always right. Yeah. Yep. That’s what I fuss about.

Must tell you my favorite part of the video. First, love the editing. Favorite part was after he kneels down to hug the tiny older lady…the scene goes from black and white to color, and then she touches his face with her hand. The best. Cry every time. Why? Because he was giving free hugs, but she gave something back to him in that touch. Beautiful. Just beautiful.

And I tried not to cry and I fought back my tears but not for long because suddenly they just rolling down my face. Thank you!

A bunch of those viewings are because I emailed the link to everyone in my address book. It’s a delightful video. Just honest human connectionedness. Makes me cry when I watch it, too.

I immediately posted the link to this video to my favourite horror writers forum board – Horror Writers are some of the nicest, kindest and most giving people I’ve ever met. I knew they would appreciate it. The video made me a little bit sad, but at the same time impressed at how many people the man and his gift reached. The power of touch can never be denied.

Aw! That made me cry! With a big grin on my face! What a fabulous way to start what could be the most amazing weekend of my life. Thank you!

I was all like, “Hugs? Whatever.” Then I cried like a baby.

They featured it on Good Morning America this week…that’s why so many new hits.

Well, of course a lot of it is editing for effect. Good editing will make or break a movie, you know. In this clip, there is the music, the first line “I don’t mind where you come from as long as you come to me,” then the touch on the cheek with the first hug…then the world comes to life, then I observe the rest of the hugs as they take place. There is a girl in a red jogger-type jacket who gives a full embrace and you can feel in the moment that she is warm and caring. There are others who hug, but are hesitant or hugging nervously, feet planted, only allowing arms to embrace…fearing too much intimacy. Then the kid on the skateboard…very cool. And even though the song is rather melancholy, the viewer hears “And I’ll take you for who you are, if you’ll take me for everything” and more hugs. Then the hugs are banned…and you can’t even keep up with what is happening the first time you watch the video because you are loving the hugs and the music…so you watch it again. (con’t)

You see it again, and note this time that people are running to give hugs to the crescendo of the music and the lyrics “you’ll just come back running holding your scarred heart in hand”…and you are wishing you could be right there in the mix at that very moment because yes, we all have our scarred hearts in hand waiting for a healing touch. So now the petition is circluating, the media is involved and the spirit of people truly comes alive in protest of the ridiculous ban on free hugs. This while the music is strong and bold. And then the 10,000 sigs are complete, the music slows, hugs all around…given so much more freely now…and once again one man with one sign, walks the streets seeking one love. Why is it such a huge phenomenon? Well, imho, we are all so overwhelmed with or desensitized to violence, daily frustrations, stress, etc., that when some seemingly simple thing such as this video comes along, we latch on like a child nursing. We love to have hope. We long for some kindness that has no price or strings attached. (con’t)

We buy into the dream and see the value in making it a reality. Can we? Will we? Probably not. But the catalyst for change is there if we choose to act. Those people who got hugged or gave hugs are forever changed somehow, imo. Whew. Will she ever stop carrying on about this? Yes. Now is a good time. =D {{{Nunzio}}} Thanks again for posting this, and for opening up a dialogue about it.

the power of touch can move mountains. thanks for sharing this. ryn: lol darlin if it HAD been you we would have missed the concert ; )

ryn: lol how could we turn down such a heartfelt wish??

because everyone at some point or another needs a little human contact. its a great concept… a friend and i are going to portalnd with our own signs this weekend *grin*

This was great!

wow. made me all teary-eyed and everything. well over 1,000,000 views now! : )

Aw, I know I’m a pessimist but this is getting a bit too soppy for me. It’s nice and all, and I’m glad the police got their banning shoved in their face, but how silly can people be by emailing to ask PERMISSION to be included in the campaign and asking HOW they can partake. For chrissakes, they’ve missed the point completely. And the movie makers reponse just made me want to shake someone. Pah!

Hey, a new diary form, just keep adding to the original post! Really, very touching. I wonder if ‘free hugs’ would only work in a large population area, or would it also happen in a small town? I guess I could try it.

They showed this video on Good Morning America the other day, I’m sure that helped to pop that counter up so high 🙂

ha. now i’m smiling and feeling all kinds of huggy like 🙂 great video!

I love the HuggerBusker. I really, really love him. I love that he hugs thousands of people, and still remembers me by name every time I go to Montreal. I was tempted every time to take a picture with him…but it seemed wrong, somehow. He smells good. Like incense.

Mmmm I love it. It’s so… good. But I’ve had a perfect weekend, so today I love pretty much everything. I’m easy that way. 🙂

You’d better believe it, Buster. ROFL. She has a gun… everyone run!

beautiful, thanks for pointing me to that 🙂

Okay, truth: I watched the video and cried.

ryn: posted it just for you. :0) (g)

ryn: LOL!!! yah, you’re prob’ly right. (g)

ryn: so, in other words, if i act like an uncaring b*tch, every man i want will fall in love with me..? *wink* (g)

ryn: *nods in understanding* ahhhhh..! (g)

ryn: we must really be dumb then, ‘cuz women’s shoes sure as hell do NOT feel good!! they only *look* good, but they hurt like hell!! *frowns* (g)

ryn: LOL!!!! of course, only YOU would be able to find those!!! crazy!!! *hugs and spanks* (g)

ryn: LOL!!!! ‘cuz i don’t HAVE any hoochie pics!!! but i promise when i do, i’ll send ’em to ya. :0P (g)

ryn: Ain’t that the truth, we are all silly. And if women are buying love when they buy cosmetics, looks like I need to raise my standards, ’cause I just paid three bucks for a bottle of love! LOL

ryn: Gotta read that. I hope it does not diminish the huge crush I have had on Descartes all these years. 🙂 It is not so much what he says, etc., as his personal story.

ryn: LOL! i s’pose it could be worse. it coulda read “vulvar” latin. :0P

You better believe it, Buster.

ryn: i was talking about physically, sexually. :0P (g)

ryn: yes, poor me. What the Cards really need to do is, when they go to play each game, just walk up to the other team and say, “Here you go, you won.” It would save a lot of time and heartache. Why can’t we win? Why can’t we win???? LOL

Oh, and you have mail. =)

Nunz! Don’t worry. Nice of you to respond… 🙂

love it! one of my fave vids. and youa re one of my fave faves. ~kisses~ with tongue of course

Yep yep. Thanks for the reminder. 11/27/2008

I watched the video twice – once for me, once with my son. We had gone to see Sick Puppies in concert when they appeared with Three Doors Down. The interview video has been removed “due to terms of use violation.” Too bad, I was interested in seeing it.

Soon hugging will be banned everywhere, Teachers can no longer hug students and everyone is suspicious when a stranger aprroaches you. It makes me sad. We are all simply longing to be touched. How can that be a bad thing?

YES to that last note. I just left the UK to go work in Belgium. My primary students suddenly get up in the middle of the lesson and hug me. They come and touch me…because they need my warmth. I’ve heard other teachers say it too about that class. And you know… its wonderful. So natural. When it first happened I was taken aback, scared for me job. In the UK that would be unacceptable.Right now, I just go hug them right back. I like to be hugged. I feel like going out and offering a free hug.

GAH! THANKS Nunzio. I’m sitting on my couch blubbering lol well not quite but just about.. phew.. i want a free hugs t-shirt. i forgot about this campaign.. it is very nice to be reminded 🙂

i hadta watch it again. it made me smile and tear up simultaneously. again. and he still looks like Jesus to me. :0)

Since you posted this, I designed and wear my very own FREE HUGS t-shirt. 🙂 I loves me some free hugs. Happy happy.

wanna get to this place

Ahh….I had forgotten about this clip from back when. Good to see it today…made me smile. I want a “free hug” Tshirt!