A new free service!

This was not the first time I watch this specific episode of Oprah’s show. Actually it was the second time but it still moved me and put a huge smile on my face the same way it did in the first time I watched it. A man waving a huge cartoon board with two words on it “Free Hugs”. The guy simply stands in the middle of the streets and lifts his sign up offering a free service, hugs that is! Crazy, huh? Some say creative while others call him an outcast! (By the way, I highly value crazy people and crazy ideas! And I am trying my best to be as much as crazy as I can be!)

The story is like the following… The guy Juan Mann (pronounced “one man”) who has been living over seas in the UK for a while and once he gets back home he finds that most of his friends and neighbors moved out. The guy feels quite lonely and starts thinking of something to cheer up the people around him. The first thing that strikes his mind is to offer free hugs!

It is really amazing how a simple thing like a hug can put a smile on a person’s face, regardless of the person giving the hug. A total stranger in this case... It can change the receiver’s mood and make him/her feel better. The customers of Juan are of all ages and from both genders. One shot that I cannot erase from my memory is the look on the face of this old lady (60 years old at least) while and after Juan gives her a hug. It was a calm smile that can fill any of your guys’ hearts with joy and serenity. Your eyes might tear up as well as you are watching Juan practicing his free of charge service.

The story of Juan reminded me of a discussion I had with a friend a while ago. He was telling me about this Khaliji(from the Arabian Gulf region) guy who was at the airport meeting up with his family. My friend was telling me how his children ran towards him and hugged and kissed him. That was quite a surprising scene for my friend since it is not quite common in his family. The question is why do Omanies in general find it difficult to show their love and affection towards their loved ones. Be it a wife or a child… a dear brother or a loving sister? I don’t want to discuss the issue of showing love in public as that’s not our subject here. I am discussing those families where a 6 year’s old boy shakes hands with his parent as they are leaving or arriving from abroad. And do we need to wait for the moment that we travel so that we can give a hug to our children, brothers or sisters?

Juan in ACTION!