As a member of the coaching industry, I get a lot of e-mails from coaches I like. Today, I read an e-mail with a beautiful short movie clip from Lou D’Alo, who is a coach and facilitator at the International Coach Academy, where I got my coaching certification. Lately, I’ve been deleting a lot of “extracurricular” e-mails because things have gotten so busy that I’m on extreme time management. Somehow, I opened this one — and I’m glad I did.
In this movie clip, a man is walking around with a sign that says, “Free Hugs.” Take a look and see what happens. I just love when there are signs of proof that life is beautiful, people are wonderful — and that even though it may not seem like it — we can break through the walls that separate us. Even though we may feel “weird” or may not trust — breaking through those walls often lead to peace and joy.
Consider making a parallel between what you learn here — and the walls we put up around ourselves in other circumstances in life. Where we hide in fear — a false fear that only serves to keep us in a prison on pain.
As you watch, I’m sending free hugs to you all — spreading the light of love to as many as possible!
by Emily
03 Oct 2006 at 23:48
What a great clip, Heather! Thanks for sharing it with us! I’d like to send a virtual hug out to you and all the wonderful readers of your blog!
love,
Em
by karen
04 Oct 2006 at 19:47
I could only see part of the film but what a great idea i want to send hugs yto ewveryone
Much love Karen
We all need hugs!
by Michelle Hope
05 Oct 2006 at 18:15
OMG, Heather – that video just made me weep. Here I am in my office, just bawling, tears streaming down my face – I’m STILL crying as I write this!!
That was beautiful and sad at the same time. Thanks for posting it. I’m going to send people over here to get their own dose of hugs.
Love and gratitude,
Michelle
by Palmtreechick
06 Oct 2006 at 08:58
I finally got around to watching that. It was amazing. Very powerful. My emotions in this order…
Sad, big smile, happy, tearful (in a good way), angry, then happy and proud.
THANKS!
by Heather
10 Oct 2006 at 09:17
Hi Emily, I’m glad you liked the video — I also felt like it created a sense of beauty in the world. Thanks for your hugs!
With love,
Heather
by Heather
10 Oct 2006 at 09:19
Hi Karen, Wouldn’t it be a different world if people were comfortable hugging one another like that? It’s like we all walk around with big walls around ourselves — like we’re protecting ourselves lest we look stupid or small. It’s like we are surrounded by fears of benig found out. When someone comes along and hugs us, we feel vulnerable — and that can be scary.
Little did we know that it’s the best feeling in the world. Being touched, hugged by someone else is a way to transfer the feeling of love and support — something I’m sure we all need.
With love,
Heather
by Heather
10 Oct 2006 at 09:22
Hi Michelle, I’m glad you liked the video and will share with others! I felt exactly the way you did when I watched it — I was a crying mess! But it felt good to see the human spirit embrace this love and joy that was being freely given.
It’s funny how we don’t trust it — you could see the people not trusting — thinking he was a freak. We worry about people who are so open sometimes, don’t we? And yet love is what we all want. I join you in my tears and also the belief that we can break down our fears and just hug someone — or receive hugs. How awesome is that?
With love,
Heather
by Heather
10 Oct 2006 at 09:24
Hi PTC, Thanks for sharing how you felt while watching — it’s interesting the range of emotions that come up in such a short video, isn’t it?
I wonder what it would feel like to be the guy with the “free hugs” sign? I wonder if it would be scary and then frustrating and then just the most amazing experience? It’s interesting how once one or two people started to receive the hugs, a whole bunch of people got involved and the smiles and laughter started to show up in the otherwise gray and somber street scene.
With love,
Heather