Hula Hoop

I actually love being around people—but crowds are a different story. Give me a quiet street, a cozy coffee shop, or a hidden corner of a park, and I’m all in. But squeeze me into a busy downtown, shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers, and I immediately start plotting an escape plan.

That’s when I came up with the perfect idea: a hula hoop!

I walked around the city spinning a hula hoop nonstop. Instantly, I had a personal bubble where no one could step too close. No awkward shoulder bumps. No flyers shoved into my hands. And finally, a little breathing room to actually enjoy my walk in the city.

Of course, there was one problem. My hula hoop had those little beads inside, so every spin came with that constant "shhh-shhh-shhh". It was embarrassingly loud that I couldn’t tell if people were avoiding me because of the hoop—or because of the awkward soundtrack that came with it.

Looking back now, though, I realize the idea was kind of genius. During the pandemic, when everyone was struggling to keep a safe distance, a hula hoop might have been the perfect solution: functional, fun, and just awkward enough to work.