Hugs will heal.
On January 1, 2017: I dove into the icy Atlantic Ocean for my own polar bear plunge.
February 14: For Valentine’s Day I hugged people at the geographic “heart”of the country in Lebanon, Kansas.
April 3: Again, I found myself in Kansas- this time, in the town of Olathe to hold a “Hug Party” after a drunk in a bar shot 3 men - killing one - thinking they were terrorists.
May 3: I embraced the owners of Duke Cannon grooming products in Chicago after inking a deal to drive the continental US embracing people.
June 24: I inked a deal with Advantage Rental Car and began that tour.
September 12: I ended that 48 tour at the closing bell of the NYSE with a hug and high5 total 13,986.
November 24: I elected to spend my Black Friday hugging people around Las Vegas to help usher in their first post-tragedy holiday with a smile:)
Whew.
I’ve put my self in the position to encounter a lot in 2017 and if I go back even further into 2016 and my embracing folks in San Bernardino and Orlando after the Pulse Nightclub shooting and then look back even further since my friend Kevin L Bowser was killed in the World Trade Center attacks; my time has been dense with emotion -from tears of joy to sadness.
16 years ago, I never would’ve thought I’d be here - where my hugging people after tragedy is now my job...and a necessary one at that...BUT there is a bright spot ahead of us.
On December 22 I’m going to do my part to end everyone’s 2017 with a smile by having a Hugs, High5s and Healing event at The First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas where the November shooting occurred.
I don’t have much planned right now because I am pretty much a one-man-operation so stay tuned for details but it doesn’t really matter because the paramount thing is that:
If 2017 was a tough year for you and you need a smile, a high5 and especially a hug - meet me in Texas on December 22 at 3PM and get an embrace- give an embrace- get a smiling start to your 2018
That’s enough rambling for me right now- I’ve got people/companies to call:)
Hugs and High5s Everyone.
Big
If your company wants to fill the gift bags that I'm about to buy - call me 267.252.1974
