8/12/2019 UC Essay 2
2/2
react. After about thirty seconds, I heard Patch say, ont resist
it. 4ust accept each other and
find the best in the hug./ Immediately I gave into the hug,
soa!ing into its comfort and peace.
efore I !new it, Patch told us to exit the embrace, than! our
partners, and find a new stranger.
As I loo!ed for a new partner, I thought about what Patch said,
and I felt good about the hug. I
was ready for another long embrace. 5xcept this time, instead of
hugging, Patch told us to grab
our partners face, and tell them I love you/ repeatedly. )hoa
now, I was not ready for this. It
was li!e going &67&& mph in five seconds. I wanted
to bac! out, but I did it anyways anyways.
And now Im bac! to where I began, uncomfortable beyond compare.
I didnt !now what
I was doing. I loo!ed to Patch for guidance, and his comfort and
confidence had an impact on
me. In that moment, I reali3ed I didnt have to be uncomfortable,
and that I could love this
stranger. I loo!ed bac! into the eyes of this man, and with
every ounce of conviction, I told this
man, I love you./ And I did so for the next five minutes, before
Patch had us switch, and then
stop.
Patch continued the night with an open mic of people sharing
their love strategies, or how
they go about bringing love to the world in their everyday
lives. As I listened to everyone, I
thought about the moments I 1ust went through and what it meant.
"he stories and strategies that
everyone shared at the mics resonated in me in ways I never
imagined. 8rom that night on, I
created my own love strategy9 to create a safe and comforting
atmosphere everywhere I go, and
to love and accept all that I meet.
