Our intention was to stand in The Peace Gardens in Sheffield City Centre and give FREE HUGS to passersby, however we didn’t actually make it that far as we were so busy giving FREE HUGS along the way!
Helen, Parashanti and Dhira in Sheffield
There were people who ran towards us with open arms wanting a hug, people who at first resisted then relaxed and welcomed our attention, people who hurried past yet couldn’t help but break out into a little smile.
We were watched from buses, offices, shops and upstairs apartments, a hairdresser left his clients for a hug, a guy in an electrical shop made his own sign saying “Premium Hugs £1.99” and came and stood with us for a while! People came back for seconds and a young Muslim man gave Helen £1.32 towards the cost of a meditation retreat.
We hugged 100s of people and could have gone on for hours if it weren’t for the need of sustenance and rest for our physical bodies. There was just an awesome outpouring of love and service, when asked why, all we could say was that we wanted to make the world a better place, to brighten up someone’s day.
“It’s been a great joy, my face hurts from laughing all morning, it’s expanding my own consciousness.” Said Helen.
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[/twocol_one_last]“I loved getting out there & giving” said Parashanti, “it’s the simplest way, giving a free hug; it’s like smiles, laughter and free hugs! That sums up the morning for me, sharing lots of moments of connection with people. We’ve had so much gratitude expressed, little bits of people’s life stories, little bits they wanted to share.”
Dhira said ” Being totally in the moment, just giving with no preference, just turning from one person to the next, one after the other, hugging all of humanity. Meeting their eyes and wishing them a great day. Having people rush towards me with arms wide open, sometimes picking me up and swinging me around, people just opening up to a little hug and seeing it light up their day.”
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[/twocol_one_last]We heard comments like “You made my day,” “I needed that,” “What a difference this makes!”
So that’s why we wanted to stand on the streets of Sheffield and hug everyone, that’s why our eyes met with the lonely homeless person, the old couple loaded up with shopping, the little kids in their push chairs, the office workers rushing by, the mothers and daughters, the business men, the students, the lads out for a laugh, the road sweepers and the young girls wired to their iPods; TO LOVE EVERYONE. For there is no separation, we are all one, we are all aspects of the silence, to hug a stranger is to hug an aspect of ourselves. To bring love to all the places within ourselves that have ever felt separate or limited.
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[/twocol_one_last]If you would like to set this up in your area, invite us to come and give FREE HUGS in your town, find out how to sponsor us or just find out more about it then contact Dhira on 07857 702257 or dhira@thebrightpath.com
It’s such a simple way to make a difference!