Going public about cuddling work on social media

NourishnNorskiNourishnNorski
in General

Hey everyone!

I've started a new facebook and instagram account to share about faith, doubt, mental illness, and the stigma (and joys!) of cuddling work. I've posted two reels so far (one an intro to who I am and one a story about not being healed of bipolar disorder) and plan to go public tomorrow afternoon about being fired from one of my jobs after they found out about my cuddling work. Obviously, with the cuddling world being so stigmatized and misunderstood, I'm bracing myself for serious backlash (especially among my Christian followers). If you're inclined to pray, please pray that my video would reach the right people and that I would handle the backlash well. Any words of advice or encouragement appreciated too!

Thanks, y'all!

Comments

  • SpicyNSweetSpicyNSweet

    I'm so sorry you were fired!! That kind of judgment and closed mindedness is so harmful. Wishing you all the best ❤️

  • NourishnNorskiNourishnNorski

    Thanks for your kind words! Yeah, it was a huge bummer. They gave me an ultimatum: stop cuddling or be fired. I wrote a letter to the board explaining how what I do is ethical and platonic but they still fired me. It's so sad that our society is so judgmental of legitimate touch needs.

  • TheFunCartelTheFunCartel

    I'm bracing myself for serious backlash (especially among my Christian followers).

    You have the support of Beelzebub. He endorses your efforts.

  • NourishnNorskiNourishnNorski

    @TheFunCartel LOL. I'm sure my Christian friends would agree.

  • Warm_and_CozyWarm_and_Cozy

    May I ask where you’re located? This is so disheartening, I’m sorry!

  • NourishnNorskiNourishnNorski

    @Warm_and_Cozy, I’m in San Diego!

  • [Deleted User]MasonDixonCuddl (deleted user)

    Christian cuddler here. I absolutely support you @NourishnNorski!

  • NourishnNorskiNourishnNorski

    @MasonDixonCuddl thank you!! ♥️

    I really can’t imagine God having an issue with consensual, platonic, caring touch. It’s mind boggling to me that so many Christians judge it.

  • Mike403Mike403

    I'm an atheist but was raised Christian as a child and was judged on everything I did by my fellow church goers and made me feel like I was a bad person just because I listened to secular music. I'm not sure why they would have any negative views on cuddling especially since there is no sex involved. It doesn't make any sense to me.

  • [Deleted User]Adam_Prof (deleted user)

    I'm sorry about what happened with your job and wishing you a great new business beginning. I think that the best thing to do is firstly making your message detailed about what you want to do exactly and using hashtags that help you to reach more people. But, the most important idea is to reach out to your churches priests who can help you by connecting you with people who are in need of your special cuddling touches.

  • NourishnNorskiNourishnNorski

    @Mike403 fundamentalist Christians tend to demonize any kind of touch between members of the opposite sex. It’s purity culture in full force.

    I’m so sorry you were judged as a younger person. That’s not the way it should be. I’m a Christian and listen to Led Zeppelin and Queen regularly 😀

  • NourishnNorskiNourishnNorski

    @Adam_Prof thanks for the kind words and encouragement.

  • durantpianodurantpiano

    There’s Christian massage therapists… so do they also judge them for touching and rubbing all over half naked bodies???? That is way more intimate than cuddling…😱

  • JohnR1972JohnR1972

    @NourishnNorski
    “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” - frequently attributed to Margaret Mead

    I am a big believer in “ripples” because I have personally and repeatedly observed how one person’s actions can radiate across time and space to produce results far beyond that person’s expectations. Your efforts could embolden more people to explore cuddling or potentially change the views of some people about the subject.

    Honest, authentic discussion, like what you will be providing, is a force of nature. You never know who you might reach and influence whether it is one person who truly needs to hear your voice and experience or tens of thousands of people who may become more understanding and tolerant after reading / watching what you have to share. 👍

    If you are comfortable sharing, can you say the type of business that let you go over cuddling? I’m just trying to understand their motive (I.e. fear of customers backlash if people thought you were doing more than cuddling?)

  • BrandiBrandi
    edited April 13

    Isn’t being fired for that some kind of discrimination? It’s completely legal.
    And being in California with it being so progressive you might be able to have a serious law suit on your hands. Id look into it if I were you honestly. Not cool.
    Sending love and prayers and sorry that happened. Wish people were more understanding and hope you don’t get much more backlash, if you do, know you have lots of cuddlers here in your corner and the naysayers won’t stop from knowing in your heart you’re helping people and bringing a much needed light to the world ♥️

  • JohnR1972JohnR1972

    @Brandi
    Employment law varies greatly from state to state. Even within a given state, some types of employers may have more leeway than others to impose a “morality clause” in their employment contracts (most commonly seen in teacher contracts or employees of faith based organizations).

    I’m not saying cuddling is immoral but that depending on a number of factors, the employer may have been within their legal rights (which is an entirely different question of whether they did the right thing),

  • TheFunCartelTheFunCartel

    @Brandi The company I work for is in Michigan and since my income is derived by a company in Michigan I had to sign a piece of paper acknowledging that Michigan is an “At Will” state which means they do not even have to provide a reason as long as it’s not based on race or gender. Well we know how that goes—it could be about those things but we suddenly eliminated your position anymore is how it’s presented to you. That could possibly be the case here.

  • BrandiBrandi

    @JohnR1972 & @TheFunCartel solid points. Just saying I would personally look into it just to be sure.

  • SqueezeBuddySqueezeBuddy
    edited April 14

    It’s a painful irony that some of the most judgmental and closed-minded people are found within religion. History is riddled with atrocities and abuses carried out in the name of faith. 'Love one another as I have loved you' is a beautiful command, yet it often seems to be the very last thing some believers actually practice

  • theHugAlchemisttheHugAlchemist

    My religious parents took a bit to accept my cuddling work.. But about a year in I actually gave a talk to my mom's Christian ladies group about cuddling and it was well-received. In rural North Dakota no less!

    My dad who famously called my work "creepy" back when I started, sat up on the living room stairs so he could hear my talk too.

    When I had social media I was super public about my work. But it's mostly my community who follows me and they're always doing cuddle parties, I can't host an event without putting a cuddle mat out or they'll just cuddle on the hard floor.

    Sidenote: I'm three weeks into no social media and it's the best, highly recommend.

  • CarrieCACarrieCA

    Sorry to hear you’re facing backlash, I hope that an even better opportunity comes from this.

    Yesterday someone messaged me on here to ask me to come over NOW, zero notice at 9pm for a one hour session with a “famous streamer” to get “lots of publicity and exposure.”
    I had to explain to them that I don’t want ANY exposure that could jeopardize my work, especially not for a one hour session that I’m only offering for a temporary promotion.
    People’s brains are shrinking.

  • cuddlefaerycuddlefaery

    @CarrieCo I wouldn't have even bothered explaining - that's too obviously fishing for SW, a scam, or a trafficker. If I bothered to reply at all, it would have been a simple "no thanks" 🤷🏻‍♀️

  • great_pillow08great_pillow08

    @NourishnNorski How can your employer fire you for having a side gig? There’s nothing amoral about this, but as someone who’s come in contact with SO MANY people who LEGIT have mental “issues”, PLEASE don’t use the words “healing” or “therapy”. It sets up an expectation most of us aren’t even a little bit prepared to fulfill. I’ve come in danger from it more than twice now and it’s terrifying!!

  • consciousseekerconsciousseeker

    @NourishnNorski If your goal is to normalize/educate people about your work then I am sure you will get a new group of fresh open minded people and in the process you will lose those judge. it's a win-win.

  • zoeloveshugszoeloveshugs

    I’m so sorry you were fired. That’s wrong!
    You are very brave to go viral! I support you!
    Using our voices to de stigmatize the need for touch and mental health is needed! You should also include why you got fired… that’s discriminatory!!

  • HuggycatbearHuggycatbear

    @theHugAlchemist I just want to say, thank you so much for sharing this, even being off social media. Some people's stories really resonate.

    Your other post that was your honest feelings about being burned out as a pro and how you want to divert your wide breadth of care towards activities and communities like gardening is the template I feel with my job and my love of writing as an author.

    I'm so glad that you are making strides in bringing the cuddle community out to the world, because it would benefit those in religions greatly. My friend is religous and while he accepts and listens to all my cuddling journeys, knowing it has been good for me, he wouldn't do it. Oh well, baby steps.

  • theHugAlchemisttheHugAlchemist

    thank you @Huggycatbear

    I need a Who Would Jesus Cuddle shirt for when I go visit my parents hahah

    I cuddled with a pastor long ago and he was very concerned that his congregation might find out and not get it.

    I am long past the point of hiding really anything about my life and what I'm about.

    but maybe I'd feel different if I was a pastor or had a corporate job/boss, so I respect privacy and treat my clients as if I'm bound by HIPAA

  • HuggycatbearHuggycatbear

    Me too @theHugAlchemist, no more masks. Too old for that shit lol.

    Jesus would cuddle. Probably did.

    Yes, it's a shame that people do have to hide that they cuddle. So much of the world is still in the darkness about this.

    I am adding it to my story. I wanted to have two characters that were not romantic interests. And since the main character in my book is animalistic, what better way to show that by being cuddly. Being cuddly in a nightmare world of horror noir lol.

  • sin67sin67

    I think we in Canada are lucky. Multi cultural society, guess does not emphasize much on religion. Society mostly does not care what one does as long as it does not interfere into someone else’s personal space. People n society mainly leave you alone. It’s sad to hear that they would actually fire you for cuddling society member. Culturally we wish each other with a warm hug n kisses on both the cheeks. I guess it will be a taboo in some society. In this time and age Humanity should be a primary factor n not religion. If we did really believed in humanity, love n warm cuddles, hate n wars would. It have any space in this world. Peace.

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