INSPIRATION
Maybe that’s why the Free Hugs Campaign struck
such a nerve. There’s now an International Free
Hug Day celebrated in early July each year, as well
as a Collegiate International Free Hug Day that has
its own app. Whatever his real name is, Juan Mann
must have a satisfied smile on his face to see his
movement proliferate the way it has.
To be sure, sharing more affection with other people isn’t going to end poverty or solve the U.S. unemployment problem. Hugging more won’t free us
from dependence on foreign oil or eradicate world
hunger. That doesn’t mean your need for affection
is trivial, though. Relationships that offer opportunities to give and receive affection can solidify and
strengthen your connection to the world around
you, increase your sense of optimism and fortitude, counteract depression, and improve your
body’s abilities to manage stress.
In other words, it won’t solve our global problems, but it will better equip us to. This book
will be a first step toward easing loneliness in
your own life. In this book, I will:
• Explain what it means to hunger for social connections and affection
• Illustrate how common and widespread
the problem is
• Describe the causes behind affection
hunger and the problems associated
with it
• Help you assess your own needs for human connection
• Offer six compelling strategies for attracting mo ɔ