OK, I finally did it!
I put a sign on myself and wore it downtown.
My sign said, "Free Hugs."
Now for folks that don't know me, I'm basically a shy person who likes to blend in with the surroundings. This reminds me of a time my oldest son took me across the border into Mexico many years back when I had bright red frizzy hair and freckles all over my face.
He said, "Just stay close. I can blend in, but you, you don't blend."
Today I wanted once more to blend in, but I knew that this was something I had wanted to do for a long time, but always saw it overshadowed by other demands, most of which would let me blend in with my crowd.
So at about 1:30, I started putting on my outfit, a long dress, long socks, a sweater (It was cold out there!), my coat, striped hat and then my banner, like those ribbons beauty candidates wear, on which I had lettered with a Magic Marker the night before, "Free Hugs."
I crossed the banner across my chest and pinned it together at my hips. I also decided to safety pin it at my shoulder so it wouldn't constantly slip down.
First I hugged my housemate once I got to my front door. Then came the big moment:
I walked out the door and walked proudly toward downtown. No one honked or seemed to give me the eye. I got all the way to downtown before I saw what looked like a middle aged couple who looked to be tourists.
I asked them if they wanted a hug. They did. I gave one to each of them.
The ice was broken. Would it get easier?
It did. Sure many people avoided meeting my eye. This is a busy time of the year, the last weekend of shopping before Christmas. I'm sure folks had more on their mind than letting this little old woman stop their train of thought with a hug. So be it!
Soon I was at Pritchard Park, saw some friends and gave all of them hugs. That was easy. We always hug. But then I gallivanted around and found some other "little different" folks, along with some Occupy Asheville folks, and we had a great time with our hugs.
I continued to get a couple turn-downs here and there, but for the most part, Asheville has a lot of people who like their hugging. And after all, like I said, it's a hugging time of the year. It's Christmas time, after all!
I joined my friends who for awhile circulated around downtown singing non-consumerist Christmas songs, so for awhile, I forgot that I had my sign on. Except for one time. I saw a couple familiar-looking faces sitting on a bench by Woolworth's, a couple homeless guys. I asked them if I could hug them, and their's were great!
Eventually I took off my banner and became a normal person again. But at last I had done what this shy little girl inside would have never done, especially as a loner. Even though I was amidst a crowd of people, some I knew and others I didn't, I was the only one offering free hugs.
Know what? It was fun! It was Asheville, after all. No big deal! Folks do
"weird" things around here all the time. I think I will do it again. I may even enjoy it more the second time. But you know what they say: "It's never again like it was the first time."
I don't think I'll ever be another "Hugging Saint," like the famous Amma, who hugs thousands of people a day around the world. But in my own little way, I conquered a demon within me today.
It was the demon of self consciousness, or timidity, of always blending in.
There are many many people around us who need a special hug for no other reason than to just have a touch in a world that is afraid of touching, especially strangers, unless there is a payment involved for a "different type of touching."
Mine was just a hug, a long hug sometimes. It was good for me and it was good for others. I think next time, I'll add a little phrase, such as "I believe in You!"
Maybe in my own little way, I will be helping to make the world a little better place.
Want to join me next time?