No Free Hugs in Boise

I'm a "Hugger," so when I heard about this "Free Hug Day" in Boise I was all over it, but there were No Hugs being given out! Why?!

I saw this sign yesterday and thought "what a cool event!!" The power of a hug is immeasurable. I'm a very "huggy, kissy Mom." No matter how many mistakes I make, I make sure to hug and kiss my kids and tell my children I love them every single day I am with them.

Maybe this is TMI, but hugs were something I missed out on as a kid. My parents are not "huggy, kissy, people." I've learned that's o.k.; they show love in different ways. (Like coming to all of the games I cheered at in High School and listening to WOW Country all the time.) I on the other hand love giving and receiving HUGS!!

The "Free Hug Campaign" was started by a man named Juan Mann who hit rock bottom in his life and when he arrived at an airport to go home he really noticed that he had no one to greet him or give him a hug like other people did.

Juan needed a hug in a bad way. Someone to tell him it's going to all be o.k. and he'll find his way. So Juan decided to stand on a busy corner and hold a sign offering up Free Hugs! At first he was met by lots of strange stares, then little by little people came up to him and took the hug. People told him stories like "my dog just died this morning and I really needed that hug" or "this is the one year anniversary of my daughters death, thanks for the hug."

Unfortunately, the police tried to ban Juan's hugs at one point, but he got through the red tape and now people all over the country are holding hug-a-thons.

I LOVE this idea. I have no idea why I couldn't find anyone giving out Free Hugs in Boise today along Apple Street between Park Center and Boise Ave but we need to do this!!

Maybe Rick and I can go out and hold a hug-a-thon sometime this week. Would you take a Free Hug?!