Would you like a hug?

FREE HUGS

Imagine that the sun is shining and you are walking down the road. Suddenly a girl with a big friendly smile comes up to you and asks “Would you like a Free Hug?” At first you freeze surprised by her out of nowhere approach, than you think “What does she want?! Is she selling something?! How much is it going to cost? Maybe she will ask me to sign some petition against nuclear bomb…,oh I don’t feel like signing anything… ” while you are thinking the girl is already giving you a BIG hug! It actually feels pretty nice, positive and energizing. You finally ask “What is this  hugging all about?”The girl looks at you with her smiley eyes and says “there is no reason, my friends and I decided to do it just to make people feel better, hugging is very powerful you know”. It seems strange to you, as she doesn’t want anything after all, and YES it feels really great! Continuing walking you think of how unusually good it felt, and what a great idea indeed!  

On Sunday June 24^th Ewa organized a Free Hug Event that took place in People’s Park in Dun Laoghaire. A group of eleven people gathered in the afternoon to spread positive energy through hugging. The atmosphere was amazing! For more than two hours we were joking, laughing, smiling and really enjoying the Free Hugs. I asked Ewa what were the reasons behind organizing this event.

Therapy Room: Where does the Free Hugs idea come from?

Ewa: I went to a few Free Hugs events organized previously by Kobiecy Punkt Widzenia and I enjoyed the positive atmosphere so much that when the opportunity arose I decided to organize it myself.

Therapy Room: What is it about Free Hugs that people enjoy?

Ewa: It is the great atmosphere! And smiles that you see on people’s faces. You see it works both way really. Often the hugged person is surprised and sometimes a little bit confused but once they are being hugged they laugh and walk away with a big smile. There are people who would say that we made their day, and that they soooo needed a hug. And for those particularly it is worth doing it.
Is there anything more beautiful that can you get from a stranger then gratefulness and a sincere smile ? Even the day after the Free Hug event I still felt fantastic having so much positive energy!

Therapy Room: I agree with you.  I had lots of positive energy too. I heard that some of the Free Hug givers were worried that people may not want a Hug and may want to be left alone.

Ewa: Yes, that’s normal to be a bit anxious at the beginning, but give it a few hugs and all fears disappear! People have right to say “No”, and this is all right. Most of them would smile at you anyway before they say “No” so it’s ok. I would say that 90% of people would hug you back appreciating the positive energy that hugs create.

Therapy Room: What are the other benefits of hugging?

Ewa: There are lots haha It can help you fight your own inner fears. Let’s say you don’t feel comfortable around strangers, and you may find it difficult to give hugs. Once you are around others “huggers”, you are one step closer. Then you see the fantastic outcomes and you feel like joining but something is holding you back. If you explain to  yourself that hugging is like an exercises where you learn to fight your own fears you will feel great after the first few hugs. Not only you will  make others smile but also you do something beneficial to yourself. You feel stronger, happier and really enjoy the energy that is around you and inside you!

Therapy Room: Oh, I really want to do it again!

Ewa: We are planning to organize the next even soon. 

Therapy Room: Great, we will keep everyone posted on our Facebook page: Free Hugs Ireland & therest of the world. We encourage our friends to join the page and spread out the positive hugging energy.  

Thank you for the chat, keep up the good work! I’m looking forward to the next event, Yeeey more happy feelings and joy to come!