the Man Who Embraced the World Meet David Sylvester,
people appreciate the goodwill I’m trying to engender,” David said. “During the pandemic, I was writing short stories about different embraces I had around the planet. People really appreciated it.”
David Sylvester is a personal trainer at the Union League of Philadelphia, a reciprocal club of the Duquesne Club. David’s clients look forward to one thing after their training sessions with him—a warm hug. Hugs are David’s specialty. As the World Trade Center crumbled in 2001, David wanted to help people cope with the devastating event, and he knew hugs were one thing that could make people feel better. His book, One Hug at a Time , documents 99 personal stories from the man who embraced the world. Since 2001, David has hugged over half a million people in 50 states and 42 countries. David committed to giving hugs around the world because he knows turning something negative into a positive contributes to our health and the health of those around us. We sat down with David to learn more about the relationship between hugs and wellness and why he strives to keep people smiling. Hugs and Emotional Wellness David has become a valuable resource at the Union League and in life—people know they can come to him for a hug and advice. Some even tell him the hug is the best part of their workout. “Through all the adversity that’s come from the past few years,
David always tries to keep things positive. He embarked on a 48-state trip during the pandemic to do good deeds for people in every state. He bought
an older woman’s gas. He donated to a domestic violence shelter. He took a homeless woman out to dinner. He bought 100 pounds of cat food for an animal shelter. David firmly believes that hugs, smiles and positive connections are essential to leading a healthy life, especially after this prolonged period of pandemic isolation. After all, physical and emotional wellness aren’t separate realms—they are connected. Harnessing the value that good deeds and acts of positivity have on your health is crucial to experiencing true overall wellness. Our Members Expand Our World Special thanks to Duquesne Club member Ms. Mimi Johnston for bringing this story to us. Ms. Johnston said that David’s work uplifted her during a difficult time when she and her husband were visiting Philadelphia for medical treatment for their dogs.
Duquesne Club | 23
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker