"Free Hugs..." and Dandelife the T-Shirt − 13 September, 2007

Memories, Revisited
Dandelife is nothing if not hopeful. Storytelling is at the heart of Dandelife, and while it may be a handy tool to create timelines and chronicle your own life, it can also help you remember. As you visit and read stories by others, make and receive comments, you are helping yourself remember the stories that make up your technicolored past. When we launched our streams feature a few months ago, it was an experiment in recording the minutiae of our online lives for posterity. It was also an experiment in letting us as friends, family and fans of one another tune into one each other, staying engaged in the lives we share online.

Memories, Minted
What if Dandelife could help you experience life to its fullest? What if Dandelife could help you create new stories from new experiences that you feel compelled to share with others?

I got to thinking about this problem awhile back and came up with a fun, low-tech memory hack. And then I got inspiration from a likely source: a friend.

Tom is a friend of mine who has a thriving business teaching faculty, staff and students at universities how they can make the most out of campus life. He helps them find interesting ways to create groups, learn from each other, and generally make the most out of their 4 years together on campus. Schools ask him to come to campus and give seminars. At the end of his speeches, he asks everyone present to participate in a big group hug. This is where students, faculty and staff break down interpersonal barriers and share a moment together worth repeating. It sounds hokey, but it's actually pretty productive. It puts into action an unspoken question: what would campus life be like if we weren't so nervous about meeting one another?

The same is true in life outside of college: break down barriers to enjoy your life more. You get what you give. Give the world a hug and it will hug you back...literally and figuratively.

Tom also mentions the Free Hug Campaign in his talks, too. The Free Hugs Campaign is a world-wide phenomenon designed to get people (of all ages and persuasions) to, well, give and get free hugs from one another. You only have to watch this video to see how liberating and exhilarating a free hug can be. A free hug from a total stranger is an instant memory.

It is with great joy that I announce Dandelife's "Free Hugs..." T-Shirt. Buy one. Put it on. Go around town. See what happens. Then come back and share your newly-minted experiences while wearing your newly-minted Dandelife T-Shirt.

Dandelife the T-Shirt
Buy Online - Men's (S,M,L, XL) and Women's (S, M, L, XL)

Front

Back
About the Shirt

Free Hugs?

This T-Shirt was designed to encourage all of you to go out and live life and in a weird kinda way get to know people. Yeah, that’s right. This T’s an ice-breaker. It’s an excuse to get to know someone. It’s permission to be spontaneous, sincere and loving all at once. So, yeah. You have my permission. Go out and live life. Make the story. Wear it often. Dirty or clean. Let’s all Dandelife one hug at a time!

Notes on Quality:

First. The fabric is the highest quality in a T-Shirt I could find (American Apparel) and the T-Shirts run a bit smaller than normal T’s. They also run a bit more expensive than the alternatives. I know you appreciate the difference.

Second. I also had them silkscreened locally. Which is to say, the printing of the image is not a mass-run. My printers are pros. Again, I know you appreciate quality.

In other words, these T’s are not going to fade, rip, crinkle, crackle or tear without a fight. You don’t tolerate inferior quality and neither do I.

A Note on Design:

The design was done by one Brian Tsang, a fellow Dandelifer.