The Power of Free Hugs
I’ve always believed in the power of touch, but these Free Hug events around the DC Metro have been a beautiful and fun event—way more interesting than I imagined! Although I’ve only done three (shoutout to my son Julian and Melissa Myers who joined me in offering free hugs at the Pathways Natural Living Expo earlier this month), they’ve been such a rewarding experience. Not only am I connecting with people, but I’ve noticed that offering free hugs is generating new cuddle clients. How exciting is that?!
The Three Types of People
Here’s the funny part—I've noticed three types of people when it comes to Free Hug events. First, there are the huggers who will cross the street, climb over cars, and rush past people to get to us. It’s like they’ve been waiting all day for that embrace, and honestly, it’s one of my favorite things to witness.
Then there’s the second type: the "Why not?" crowd. We’ll ask, “Would you like a hug?” and they’ll give this half-reluctant, half-curious look and go, “Well, sure, yeah, okay, why not?” Hahaha! You can almost see the moment they realize how much they needed it, even if they didn’t know it before.
And then, there’s the third group. These are the folks who will walk into traffic to avoid us. They’ll change direction, walk faster, and more or less pretend we don’t exist. My feelings aren’t hurt—some people just don’t want to be touched, talked to, or even make eye contact, and that’s completely okay. I say thank you for taking care of yourself and not engaging in touch when you don’t want it. One of the most important things I emphasize in session with clients is that you never ever have to touch if you don’t want to. You will always maintain autonomy over your body. The same applies out in the wild. I’m here for it!
Touch is Everywhere
What I didn’t expect is how people react when I’m not even holding the Free Hugs sign. When I’m walking back to my car, grabbing a bite to eat, or taking a break in my Free Hugs shirt, people still come up and ask, “Are you offering? May I?” It cracks me up every time because it’s just proof of how much people crave connection. It shows how badly we all want to feel held, to hold someone, and to have that simple, human connection.
Why I Do It
I could go on and on about the science behind touch—how it releases oxytocin and makes us feel calm, safe, and bonded—but at the heart of it, here’s the deal: so many people are scared, stressed, misunderstood, lonely, anxious, and just plain disconnected. If I can give someone a moment to escape all of that, even for just a few seconds, I’m here for it.
When someone says, “Thank you so much for this. I really needed it,” it makes you wonder what’s going on in their life. I’m just glad I can provide that for them. And if you’re reading this and thinking, “Hey, that sounds like something I want to be part of,” I’d love for you to join us in our Free Hug movement around the DMV.
Let’s help our community feel a little better—whether it’s by giving a hug or just offering a friendly face. DC can be a transient city, with people always coming and going. Family might be far away, and life can get pretty isolating. If you want to help make someone’s day a little brighter, drop me a comment, shoot me an email, or just show up to our next event. Trust me, it’s worth it.
