In Hamburg at the Christmas markets, we saw a group of students with ‘Free Hugs!’ banners. Everyone was studiously ignoring them, going about their serious shopping. Speaking halting German, the six of us went and claimed our free hugs from each of them. We made contact. There was laughter. By the time we moved on more people were joining in, creating this core of warmth, which kept drawing more people in. Give free gifts. Leave a favourite book on a park bench. Donate your blood. Find a way to give away some good feeling every day, for free.
