One Man

It was International free hug day last Saturday, a day created in 2006 by a guy called Juan Mann (below).

For those of you who don't know the story let me tell you...  Juan started the Campaign in Pitt Street Mall in Sydney in June 2004 after receiving a hug from a random stranger at a party during a bout of depression he was struggling with.  Juan realised the hug was all he needed to start pulling his life together and decided that he would try and do the same for someone else.

Despite initial scepticism when people realised Juan was taking nothing but offering something the 'free hug' trend began and before long there were several 'free huggers' in and around Sydney.  

Three months later officials arrested Juan stating that as he had no public liability insurance he was breaking the law.  To put this into context the insurance they wished him to purchase for offering something free was to provide cover of up to £15.5million.  What kind of hugs did they think he was offering??!?

Anyway.  Goodwill and sense won out and Juan and his 'free hug' companions started a petition to gain 10,000 signatures which successfully allowed Juan to continue to continue his free hug campaign.  

The free hug is now an international phenomenon where people world wide walk the streets and offer a taste of human kindness for nothing in return.  Its amazing to think something so wonderful started with nothing more than a simple thought and a man trying to find his way while helping others. 

I take my hat off to you Juan Mann.

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Today's tune is in the form of a youtube video.  The video was the creation of Shimon Moore, the frontman for the Sick Puppies.  Shimon met Juan in LA in 2005 and was inspired by his take on life and began filming Juan's journey.  The footage was made into a disc entitled 'This is who you are' and was set to one of the bands new tracks as a gift for Juan when Shimon learnt his grandmother had passed away in 2006.

Shortly after the video went viral and to date has over 69million views on YouTube.

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Sick Puppies - All The Same