Jose Cruz of NYC gives hugs for stressed travelers in viral ‘love’ tour

Jose Cruz is giving the difference he wants to see in the world – a hug at a time.

The bear of a brooklynite is the master behind a man “World Nakely Love Tour”, a viral mission to spread kindness and support for New Yorkers-what he knows the largest city in the world can use more after years of personal mental health fighting.

With his direct, positive message, the 32-year-old has captured the hearts of passers-by in the big apple points such as Brooklyn Bridge and Times Square-keeping signs with hand-written tips encouraging and hugging grateful gothamites, such as Marisol Rodriguez.

“This world is so filled with hatred, rage and violence,” Rodriguez, 59, told Bronx, to The Post after taking a hug from Cruz on a last walk through the iconic space. “So when I read his sign, I really got touched and felt loving and appreciated.

“I thought,” Wow, there are still people there who care, “” She continued, “and Cruz is one of those people.”

The magnificent millennium strikes the sidewalk for several hours a day, at least three times a week, during the early evening hours and weekends when foot traffic is high – and when, he said, the need for mini moral growth is even higher.

Cruz was inspired by his private battles – caused by Pandemia, and still continued years later.

“I had this feeling of anxiety and fear of the unknown – I didn’t know what would happen to me and my family,” he told the post.

As the Covid-19 virus developed rampant, he found himself becoming more isolated from the outside world, unable to connect with friends or even go to the grocery store without serious concerns.

“I knew others who were dealing with isolation and loss needed a comfort and inspiration,” Cruz said. “So, I began to make these signs with quotes from poets, motivational speakers or the Bible, remembering people that the best days are ahead.”

His household assertions, stained on white boards foaming with $ 1 $ with charpie markers procured by his neighborhood dollar, offer significant glow, such as, “The world is a better place with you in it,” “your wounds show what you went through, but they also show you This.

‘Thanks for taking care and making a change for many people. You too are loved. Continue to spread love. ‘

Marisol Rodriguez

“The sign I write is because I either feel it in the moment or I have felt it before,” The Cheerleader told The Post. “Way is my way to ensure that people dealing with mental health issues do not feel like they are alone or suffer in silence.”

Now, in the three years since the beginning of the “world love tournament of the world” which he has also brought good news to people in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Miami-Cruz said the need for an expression, person-person-up is stronger than ever.

“Recently I went to Philly, and it was a woman who stopped and looked at my mark for over 20 minutes,” he recalled the meeting at the city’s art museum. He was located on the Sylvester Stallone stairs famously developed as “Rocky” in the eponymous film.

“The woman finally came out and thanked me for the sign,” Cruz continued. “She will lose her son in suicide. We stayed there – we cried together.”

“She said,” If there is someone else who passes what my son passed, it can make a change and inspire them to continue. “

Cruz’s crusade is a mark of times.

His efforts are a highly needed impetus to raise Gotham melancholy, where most residents value the quality of their lives as “significantly worse” than pre-candidiac times, for a recent New Yorkers survey.

Outside the city’s borders, adults nationwide are gathering with severe stress and anxiety promoted, in part, from social unrest, financial insecurity and work insecurity, according to a May 2025 study through the American Psychiatric Association.

Then, of course, there is a chronic loneliness, trendorely known as “only-virus”.

The plague of unpleasant loneliness is. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared loneliness a public health threat at the “smoking rate of 15 cigarettes a day”, and linked it to more than 100 deaths every hour – this is over 871,000 deaths each year.

Cruz, who admits that he is just a daily boy without an official psychiatric exercise, is doing his part to turn the tide with his hugs – and his signs.

“My favorite quote I have shared is,” your current situation is not your final destination, “Altruist said.

He is not paid or sponsored to post bridges, highways and ways with his words of wisdom. It is simply a selfless service that he has offered to neighbors, passengers and tourists since August 2022, when social distancing orders were still implemented – a mission funded by his day’s work, which he sought not to discover.

“I haven’t had a six-legged obstacle with people on the street who wanted to come to talk to me or hug me,” Cruz cried, remembering the beginnings of the tournament. “I felt safe. I knew their need for human bonding was true.”

While there is no shortage of men and women broadcasting different messages on city streets – following everything from the hottest restaurants to the search for one for her husband to the premature day of day – the measures are magnetized in the cordial Cruz demands.

“People of all ages, from 5-year-olds simply learn how to read the elderly, stop and read my messages,” said Cruz, who is often grateful for his good deeds, both online and inside. “Being in the city where things never stop. It is important for people to take a quick break for an inspiration and recognition.”

This is what has to do with his “tour”, Brooklynite said.

“Although I haven’t done it all over the world, people from all over the world – Australia, France, Venezuela – see my signs, photograph and share them on social media,” Cruz said.

“Colds good to encounter posts on Instagram, described in NYC Trip,” and there is a stroke of Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and I keeping my mark, “Living Landmark added.

“It means the world that I’m making the world a better place.”