I’m thrilled to introduce you to Kimberly Grace. Kimberly has been attending Cuddle Sanctuary for over a year. She is a fierce blend of love, vulnerability, honesty and humor. She’s also an artist as you’ll soon see.
Kimberly was so touched by her experience at Cuddle Sanctuary that we became an art project. Kimberly tracks her personal growth at our events with thoughtful pieces of paper-art she called zines. Here’s how it all started:
Party Time
Several years ago, I can’t even really remember when or how, the idea of a Cuddle Party crossed my path. I read an article or watched a video or some such thing and felt…curious. And a little stirred up. I didn’t think much of it at the time because I was married and it didn’t seem like an appropriate thing to explore.
But the idea activated something in me. A longing.
Several months after emerging from a devastating separation from my husband, the cuddle idea resurfaced in my consciousness. Being “single” (oh, how I hate that word!) after almost 20 years and free to explore whatever I wanted as such, I logged onto Meetup.com and entered the search term “cuddle.” A few options came up. A couple of them being some sort of tantric what-not that didn’t really resonate with what I was looking for.
Then I clicked on Cuddle Sanctuary. What attracted me were the phrases “rated G experience” and “nonsexual touch.” Clear guidelines and boundaries. Totally voluntary. That I could handle. That felt safe. I watched all of Jean’s videos and got a really good vibe. So I decided to attend my very first cuddle event on Valentine’s Day (2015).
(I know, right!!!)
What I discovered was an amazing community of open-hearted people, with Jean as their intuitive guide. At my first cuddle event, I felt very reserved physically, but very open emotionally. Had some really great conversations and left feeling seen, heard, and cared for.
After that, I was ALL. IN.
Why do I keep going back to Cuddle Sanctuary?
Because it feels good.
Because it teaches me something new every time I attend.
And, because I am who I am, I naturally want to do something creative with that learning. So I really couldn’t stop myself from making a zine for my cuddle peeps called INFINITELY EMBRACEABLE. Then I made a zine called EFFORTLESSLY DELIGHTFUL and COMMON CRAVINGS. I turned this cuddle zine thing into an official series which concluded with ETERNALLY LOVABLE and finally CUDDLE ME COSMIC.
I called this series Change Your Label because that’s what Cuddle Sanctuary is helping me do. Release old labels that were critical and self-limiting and apply new labels that are compassionate and self-affirming. My experience at Cuddle Sanctuary is helping me embrace myself. I’m learning to celebrate who I am and to generously offer my unique contribution to this connected community.