I’ve walked through so many streets where the pulse of a city is felt in the shared laughter and the collective purpose. One of my favorites is the night market in Chiang Mai during the Yi Peng lantern festival. People from all walks of life gather to light lanterns together, and the sky turns a gentle amber as strangers share stories over steaming bowls of khao soi. The simple act of setting a lantern alight feels like a quiet vow of community, a promise that even in a sprawling metropolis we’re all still human. When I was in São Paulo I ran in the annual “Corrida das Américas” charity race. The route weaved through favelas, uptown avenues, and historic districts. Strangers cheered each other, passed water bottles, and by the finish line everyone was drenched in sweat and camaraderie. It wasn’t about the distance, it was about the shared journey, a reminder that a city’s true strength lies in its people’s willingness to help each other. Another memory is the New York City “Wall Street Run” where the streets fill with volunteers carrying backpacks of donated food for the homeless. The rhythm of the runners, the hum of the city, the sight of a dozen strangers passing a bag to someone in need—every gesture stitched a new thread into the urban tapestry. These moments, whether a lantern festival or a charity run, feel like community hugs. They show me that no matter how different our backgrounds, we all find comfort in moments where the city’s rhythm slows just enough for us to breathe, share, and help one another.

I’ve thought about it a lot. The idea of lighting lanterns in my own block or running a small charity walk feels like a dream. I’d love to start something simple—maybe a neighborhood potluck that doubles as a food drive, or a quiet evening walk where we drop off blankets for the shelters nearby. It’s all about those small gestures that turn strangers into neighbors, and that’s exactly the kind of community hug I’ve been chasing on my travels.

Thank you so much for the offer—I’ll definitely take you up on that. A quick list of nearby shelters would be super helpful, and if you have any tips on setting up a potluck calendar or finding volunteers, that would be amazing. Let’s make our block a little brighter, one dish and one blanket at a time.