AUSTIN, Texas - A man took to a street corner Monday for eight hours giving out free hugs to strangers.
- Austin man has been offering hugs on January 21 for years
- Part of National Hugging Day celebration
Paul Normandin has been celebrating National Hugging Day for nine years.
He stands on the same corner once a year on the holiday to spread love. He started the tradition after being encouraged by friends. His wife also got involved with the tradition.
"Even if you are not feeling great and you come out and give out a free hugs, you feel automatically better," said Victoria Hawthorne.
For every "no," there are plenty of "yeses." The breakthroughs keep Normandin going.
"Somebody will show up an realize they don't have the capacity to give compassion to somebody else and it changes them because they realize, 'why?' Normandin said.
Some people have even came back after turning down a hug. Normandin says it's sometimes surprising to see what a simple hug can do for another human being.
"The driver got out the car and they were in tears. Their reaction to the sign just made them burst into tears. Just the sign and then when we hugged them, they just cried," said Normandin. "I don't know what that was, but they were there in that moment feeling loved and appreciated and that was enough."
National Hugging Day falls on Januray 21 each year.