Who Needs a Hug?

I read a text message from Zoe, my Starbucks manager. “I need to talk to you today Larry?”

In nearly sixteen years of my part time coffee gig, I’d never received this kind of urgent digital communication. Even as an optimist, this went to the bottom of my stomach. I replied about a scheduled professional call I was making in 10 minutes. Her reply: I need just a couple minutes, can I call now? I immediately hit CALL instead of reply.

Her first words when the call connected: “We’ve been asked to explain Project Paradise to the top leadership, Larry and I want you to be part of the Teams Call!”

For context, all three Mercer Island Starbucks company owned locations are trying take our mission and values to a new level, even in the middle of a global pandemic. Courtesy of an enthusiastic and highly committed District Manager, Bryan sees more upside through enhanced customer interaction, quality, consistent products, as well as meaningful community engagement. Project Paradise is showing the desired results and as of today, it’s no longer a secret.

Team sharing

One of our very special team members, who will also have a chance to share his passion for this unique endeavor asked me what I was going to share. Mike is less than half my age and one of the finest Starbucks Shift Supervisors I’ve had the pleasure of working with. A hundred things ran through my mind before answering inquiry.

See, I’m awashed in gratitude for what this 20 hours a week opportunity to engage with other human beings has meant to me, especially since early 2020. What I’ve seen in the last 12 months is a steady stream of human souls thirsty for a few moments of normality and a delicious, familiar tasting coffee. As the next car slowly moves to the drive thru window, I get another chance to invest my humanity in another, if only for 30 seconds. These half minute exchanges have included tears, laughter, hope, joy, fear, and plenty of exhausted eyes that tell me they can’t take much more. What I notice, just above the masks are a set of windows into the soul of fellow humans seeking for hope, kindness, and something they can count on.

As a dad (of 15 year Daniela, aka The Greatest kid in the World) and having been raised in an affectionate, middle of the road family, the reaction to everything good or bad is a hug. Much celebration and even forgiveness comes in a hug. For as long as I can remember, I’ve easily moved toward others (regardless of gender) to demonstrate and acknowledge their current situation. Today, when society needs a hug more than ever, no one can embrace. For me, this is the toughest part. When a hopeful familiar face rolled up today and told me she was half way through radiation, all I could do was wish I could celebrate with the only thing I know. A few days back, a pair of local seniors arrived and proclaimed after 20 days of trying, they finally pushed on the right door for a CV19 vaccine. This absolutely qualifies for hug or at least high five. A new college student proclaimed her grades all started with the letter A, I absolutely owed her something greater than I was able to give, especially as a dad. But there is hope. As I made my way to the car today, I noticed a senior man quickly don his mask in our outdoor seating area so he could stand and share that special moment with another human. From my vantage point, neither had seen each other in a long time and perhaps they’ve been saving this hug for over a year.

Only a few know this risky declaration: I’ve been secretly giving out hugs for several months. In a weak moment around the beginning of September, a mom of two kids (under three) told me she wasn’t sleeping, had a stressed out husband trying to run a global team from a basement makeshift office and parents across the country she hasn’t seen for all year. I had to do something. When a familiar face appeared at the window in a car jammed with household items, her bleary blue eyes told me self-respect finally won a domestic battle, I did something I wasn’t supposed to do.

Starbucks is giving out 4 million hugs a day…

For as long as I’ve been getting up at zero dark o’clock, Starbucks has been offering a sleeve by request. If you order specific drinks, it comes as standard equipment around your favorite cup. On average, Starbucks is giving out 4 million hugs a day right now and only a few customers realize these recycled cardboard cup huggers are spreading love as they ride around in this upside down world. I’m on a mission to reimagine the purpose of these icon accessories, one set of eyes at a time.

I’m doing my best to make sure extra love is around every cup I hand you through that window. Zoe can always order another box if I give away too many hugs.