On one of the coldest Valentines’ Days in recent history on the East Coast, a group of intrepid folks donned coats, hats, boots and gloves and took to the streets of Doylestown, PA which is a suburb of Philadelphia. The method to our madness, and some would say that it was a bit touched with insanity when we could have been inside in front of fireplaces, sipping hot beverages, was to celebrate love in the form of a FREE HUGS stroll. A year earlier, I had organized a FREE HUGS flash mob at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, where people from all over the world come in via Amtrak and SEPTA. I had begun calling us Hug Mobsters armed with love.

The purpose of this event was to offer nurturing hugs to those who wished to receive them. Some of us had made signs, that announced our intentions, others gave out paper hearts, stickers or kiddie Valentine cards. In about a 90 minute span,  I estimate that between us, we had hugged hundreds. Some included Girl Scouts selling cookies, store owners and employees in our local food co-op, book store, record shop, day spa, two coffee shops and a boutique. Passersby also welcomed the warmth of embrace. Some walked past, looking down as if not to feel like they needed to utter the words “No thank you.”. Some crossed the street to avoid hugging, while others crossed the street intentionally to wrap their arms around us. A few jumped out of cars to grab a cuddle. Laughter and smiles almost melted the snow.

This pizza shop owner ran out in a t-shirt since he didn’t want to miss his daily dose of lovin’ out of the oven.

Hugs are like music to the soul, as evidenced by the record store clerk who looked blissed out.

 

Even superheroes need hugs.

Brother and sister baristas share hugs too.

 

 

Hugging hello to a songbird.

Hugs are as delicious as chocolate and are calorie free, cholesterol free and fat free.

Hugs are all natural.

Even sweeter than the Girl Scout cookies they were selling.

 

Another reason that I chose this particular day is that February is American Heart Month and I wanted to bring awareness to the importance of good heart care, both biological and emotional. According to psychologist Virginia Satir and many other experts: “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth.” Nurturing touch produces oxytocin which is a brain chemical that makes people feel warm and fuzzy and bonds them to each other.  Hugging is quite simply good for the heart and our other assorted body parts.

Every day, offer hugs from the heart for the heart.