Be a Light - Introducing the Hug Felt Round the World Music Road Trip

One of the first casualties of COVID was the physical hug. Overnight, hugging family and friends became verboten, leaving many of us feeling like we’d been locked in solitary confinement. As a single woman without family, the isolation was pervasive and deep. Finding myself without a job, I had no co-workers to collaborate with or talk to. I stopped going to grocery stores and taking walks during the day because my neighbors refused to wear masks. Instead, I became a creature of the night, emerging from my den only after 11:00 pm for long, solitary walks around the neighborhood.

Then an extraordinary thing happened. I attended a live concert in a virtual world. There, more than 60 people (represented as avatars) gathered to hear a musician perform. The singer was broadcasting from the east coast of America, but the audience was composed of people from around the world. Freed from masks, social distancing, and the moratorium on physical touch we danced, told jokes, and allowed the music to wash over us in waves of life affirming sound. A tune about accidentally wishing on a plane instead of a star made me laugh; a sappy love song made me cry; and a country ballad about staying humble and kind left me feeling better than I had in weeks. “Almost,” I thought, “like I’d been given a warm hug.”

Musical Hugs Intrigued by my experience, I did some research. It turns out that notes produced by a musician are carried as sound waves to our ears. There, they are picked up by the inner ear and transmitted to the parts of the brains responsible for storing memories and emotions. So when we hear a song we love, the brain recalls and reproduces the memories and feelings associated with it. No wonder I felt hugged when I heard “You’ve Got a Friend” performed. It’s a song that brings back some of my happiest moments in college.

All of the above got me thinking. What if there was a way to help ease the sadness, isolation, and anxiety people are feeling by combining the power of story with musical hugs? How might we use the universal language of music to bring people together to share stories and support one another? That’s when the concept of The Hug Felt Round the World Music Road Trip was born.

Before you read any further, please listen to this song: https://youtu.be/Ht2NCrlghS4

For me, this song embodies what so many of us are feeling and what is possible when we reach out to give one another a “safe place to land.” It is the perfect example of a musical hug and an ideal way to introduce the Hug Felt Round the World Music Road Trip. The Hug Felt Round the World Music Trip is an ongoing series of interviews and performances with and by musicians from around the world. The goal of the Music Road Trip is to use the power of music (our universal language) to bring people together to comfort, support, and share "Music Hugs" with one another. In doing so, we hope to build a diverse community of caring individuals and groups who are committed to helping one another survive and thrive in these challenging times. Each stop along the Music Road Trip will consist of:

• An inspiring musical story told through words, images, and song

• A live performance broadcast on the web and in virtual space

• A live Q&A session with the musician(s) so that audience members can get to know them better and have an opportunity to win cool Hug Felt Round the World swag.

Watch the video below to learn more, and find out how you can be part of the dream.

Copyright 2021 by Jena Ball. All Rights Reserved.

Postponement is Not Failure

“I haven't failed. I just found 10,000 ways that won't work. – T. Edison

I have a thing about failure. Except in rare cases, I don’t believe in it. An unsuccessful attempt at anything, whether it’s tying your shoe or starting a business, isn’t a failure unless you fail to learn from it. And, as any musician will tell you, there is really no such thing as #1 when it comes to songs. Each person has his/her own unique voice and style and is an invaluable contributor to the collective story we’re telling.

The paragraph above was written by me for me as I struggle with the need to postpone “The Hug Felt Round the World.” Here is what I’ve learned:

· If the thought of a hug felt around the world has helped even a few people know they are not alone, then I have succeeded.

· The Hug Felt round the World is bigger than me Accomplishing its goals will require a team of committed professionals. I must build a team that not only cares but is capable of helping me execute as well.

· Trust must be earned.

· If the price of help is drama, walk away.

· I am not superwoman. It’s ok to ask for help.

So…although the Hug Felt Round the World will not happen this weekend, I want everyone to know the concept and my commitment to it is not going away. Also, · The Tree of Life containing the thousands of names we have collected is still here and still accepting names.

You can visit and submit names in Second Life at: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dark%20Side/221/186/24

Finally, many many thanks to those who gave so generously of your time and energy. If you haven’t received it yet, please contact me for your virtual Hug Felt Round the World t-shirt.

The Hug Felt Round the World

A lot has changed since the world "COVID" entered my vocabulary six months ago. Since then, my world has gradually imploded as things I took for granted - walks in the park, coffee at Starbucks, yoga class, cozy dinners with friends - became suspect, even dangerous. Back then, many questioned whether the virus was a hoax - whether it was actually lethal, whether we really needed to practice social distancing and wear masks. Then people began to die. Not just the frail and elderly, but the middle-aged, college students, doctors, nurses, children. Jobs, including my own, were lost and the walls of my life closed in, restricting me to two small rooms and the company of my cats.

I share all these experiences to contrast them with my life in Second Life. A long-time resident, I have been a fan of virtual spaces for education, entertainment, and business for almost 13 years. Since COVID morphed into a pandemic, however, it has become a lifeline - a way to combat isolation, socialize, and network with others.

Which brings me to The Hug Felt Round the World. Reading and hearing about the growing number of people feeling lonely, anxious, and frustrated thanks to the isolation imposed by COVID, I got to thinking. Wouldn't it be great to give people a way to come together to enjoy each other's company and share virtual hugs? Several brainstorming sessions with the folks at FOCUS Magazine (the co-creators of the event) and the basic outline for "The Hug Felt Round the World" was born.

The Hug Felt Round the World will be a 24-hour event featuring a large "hug circle" formed by avatars standing with arms linked. In the center of the circle will be a "Tree of Life" displaying names submitted to us by participants. The idea is that each of those names will be embraced and surrounded by love for 24 hours. Below is my first draft of what the event space will look like.