* OCT 27, 2008: JUANMANN.COM Opened JuanMann.com to keep in touch with all of you! :)
* OCT 18, 2008: NEW ZEALAND GATHERING Hugging in Auckland, NZ - Britomart Station from 10am
* SEP 21, 2008: FREE HUGGER, GIVES GIFT OF LIFE Click here to read more. Thanks SMH!
* SEP 14, 2008: FREE HUGS #13 TOP NATIONAL BRAND Click here to read more.
* AUG 4, 2008: SAVE MIGUEL How will you help SaveMiguel.com
Juan Mann – The Origin of Free Hugs.
I'd been living in London when my world turned upside down and I'd had to come home. By the time my plane landed back in Sydney, all I had left was a carry on bag full of clothes and a world of troubles. No one to welcome me back, no place to call home. I was a tourist in my hometown.
Standing there in the arrivals terminal, watching other passengers meeting their waiting friends and family, with open arms and smiling faces, hugging and laughing together, I wanted someone out there to be waiting for me. To be happy to see me. To smile at me. To hug me.
So I got some cardboard and a marker and made a sign. I found the busiest pedestrian intersection in the city and held that sign aloft, with the words "Free Hugs" on both sides.
And for 15 minutes, people just stared right through me. The first person who stopped, tapped me on the shoulder and told me how her dog had just died that morning. How that morning had been the one year anniversary of her only daughter dying in a car accident. How what she needed now, when she felt most alone in the world, was a hug. I got down on one knee, we put our arms around each other and when we parted, she was smiling.
Everyone has problems and for sure mine haven't compared. But to see someone who was once frowning, smile even for a moment, is worth it every time.
Hey Juan Mann, Hope you're doing well, just wanted to drop by and tell you to check out my band ?EXCITER? at myspace.com/excitermusic. Listen to the tunes, let us know what you think and, if you haven't already, do us the favor of adding us.
Ignite! Spear Ensemble invites transcendence from self as you know it, in their newest work, conceived by G. Randall Wright. Come play in the spaces in between with Mary and her dream cast of musical, acrobatic, mythic troubadours as they reincarnate instantly from dream to dream. Mary’s DreamTheatre on stage at the Garage for a limited run July 17th and 18th, 975 Howard Street in San Francisco. For tickets go to www.SpearEnsemble.com
Hey Juan... I thought I'd stop by and leave you a comment. We need you here at the Mall Of America..! If you're planning on comming, Please stop by my page and tell me the date..! So I can get my much needed hug from you. Love always, Robinlee
High in the Andes live the Aymarans. A tribe born with their toes dipped in original wisdom. They place the future at their backs and face their past with the intentness of a woman scanning a mirror for wrinkles or chin hair. An Aymaran gestures over his shoulder to indicate next year and will point straight ahead if you need directions to yesterday.
I know in my old bones… the Aymarans got it right. It is not the future but the past that looms that blooms in front of me…We're walking home backwards, every step is a point of discovery and return… All I need do is show up on the doorstep of each day. Serendipity shall orchestrate the rest.
In this new scheme of things I learn that the flip side of having your head in the clouds, is the miracle of walking on air. In this new scheme of things, death is behind me. No longer a shadowy summoning that blocks the sunlight ahead but a fond prankster who will sneak up one day when I am otherwise occupied, and surprise me with a hug.
Pavi Mehta
***
Namaste' and have a beautiful day Juan. Sending love, Naja ~*
Hey whats up Juan Mann Are you ready for this weekend??? Let me know to which one of my events you wanna come, This Thursday i got Mojito Lounge in Anaheim....., Friday i got Ember and we are doing a Disco Night "STUDIO 54 STYLE!! So dress up kind of 70's and get in FREE before 11pm, but you have to call me to confirm your VIP entrance (714) 396-9714 and remember to always mention that "GEORGE DE LA VEGA invited you, cuz they will ask you, and Saturday i will also be at Ember.. we are doing DIVAS NIGHT!! meaning Sexy girl DJs taking over the night!!
So Call me or text me ASAP so i can get you in FREE to any of my events!!!
George De La Vega (714) 396-9714 and remember to always mention "DE LA VEGA" at the door.... See u this weekend
THURSDAYS MOJITO LOUNGE..... 1233 S. Brookhurst St. Anaheim CA 92804
FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS @ EMBER NIGHTCLUB...... 401 N. Anaheim Blvd. Anaheim CA 92805
ok maybe i was exaggeratign just a bit about the "kidnappinger" part but still if that's not you its kinda creepy.or maybe he was just an obsessed huge fan that'd get look alike glasses,facial hair, and tied back long hair
hey juan^-^ok this may seem random but im kinda freaking out a bit.I thought i met you, but then when i showed the picture tooken of me with "you" in san fransisco in April(or May dont remember which), i showed my best friend and she was like oh yeah,we had a free hugs guy like that too:D.and then i was about to reply back with "UUUMMMM but its THE REAL JUAN! not some random free hugs guy!!!this is awsome!" but then when i looked at your pic on google (for proof i was right) next to the pic of me with "you" in it, I began to think that maybe it was an impersonator. Looks so much like you, but im not sure and its kinda scary. this is the picture below.is this you?if it isn't you that's kinda creepy.man if it WASNT you, then thank god i wasn't alone in an alley with that dude.who knows he coulda been a kidnapper!i also thought it wa odd he wasn't standing in the crowd full of people outside during the festival,but then i thought maybe it wa bc of the heat .anyway here's the guy below
Just wanted to let you know how much you've influenced my life. I mean, I hope it doesn't sound too weird, but you've definitely changed quite a bit of how I am.
Every now and then I'll take a white T-shirt and a black permanent marker and write "Free Hugs" just to see how many hugs I can get from people I don't know. For the last day of school, I made a giant sign and started walking around with it. After school, I walked through downtown Oxford (the city next to mine) and held the sign up high. I reached a personal record of 105 new people. I did also join as a member on your website, and I want you to know that if you ever happen to visit the US and stop in Michigan, I'll be here to support you.
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