Very recently we completed our first year as one of the fastest growing cuddle community! We are delighted to announce introduction of our cuddle awards of the year! These cuddling awards will be given to one of the selected professional cuddle buddies and enthusiast cuddle buddies.
This award is announcing our 2019 Enthusiast Cuddler of the Year! We are planning to introduce and announce 2019 professional cuddler of the year award soon in the coming weeks!
If you would like to learn more about our awards or would like to be participant, please contact us
Our 2019 Enthusiast Cuddle Member who has been selected by CuddleConnect.com for this award is NYCLatnGuy! Congratulations to NYCLatnGuy!!! Our Award includes $25 gift card and 1 year of Elite Membership! Take a moment to watch this one minute video and an interview with our Enthusiast Cuddler of the Year!
A bit about NYCLatnGuy in his own words:
I was born and raised in NYC, but have lived all over the eastern USA for my education and later for employment. Moving to new cities every few years has afforded me the opportunity to meet many new and interesting people, but has at times also led to feelings of isolation and loneliness. Thanks to sites like CuddleConnect, I have been able to mitigate that and form connections with people I would otherwise never have met.
Were you always a cuddler, or is it a more recent thing in your life?
I have always loved physical contact, even from a young age, when I would climb on my family or lay on my friends. I always had my arm around someone, would lean on them, or hold hands with those I cared about. If one is familiar with the concept of the five love languages, physical touch is my primary way of expressing affection, and it has been a major part of my life experience for both platonic and romantic intimacy. In recent years I have been more keenly aware of its importance in my life.
What brought you here to Cuddle Connect?
As I have matured in my life and relationships, I have grown to understand and appreciate the importance of platonic intimacy in my life. It can be difficult to find other people who are interested in sharing intimacy and physical touch, but who are comfortable with removing the possibility of transition to romantic or sexual interactions. This has been particularly true when I have been involved in romantic relationships with others who value physical touch less or who are at a distance that does not allow for consistent contact. Knowing that I have shared interests with my fellow platonic cuddlers takes away the stress of feeling like there is pressure for anything more than what we have agreed to, or for a need to act or perform in a manner outside of simple friendship, affection and kindness.
What do you value most about cuddling?
There is nothing quite like the feeling of snuggling up with another willing person. The feeling of calm and relaxation that washes over you, the security of being in another’s arms, the softness of another’s gentle touch. Frankly, the experience of connection and closeness is what I find to be most valuable to me, and the effects last for days or weeks, improving my general mood and sleep. How do you most like to cuddle and be cuddled? Every experience with each individual cuddle partner varies, although all have their highlights. I have found that open, clear, and honest communication before and during cuddles has led most consistently to a feeling of mutual satisfaction. I feel that versatility and open-mindedness are key to optimizing any particular cuddle interaction, and the only thing I consistently ask for from all my partners is that the room temperature be slightly cooler, as body heat can make warmer spaces more difficult to endure.
How has your experience been here on Cuddle Connect so far?
Since the moment I joined almost a year ago, my experience on CuddleConnect has been a consistently positive one. I have found fulfillment in the opportunity to not only be part of a growing community of like-minded people, but thanks to the attentiveness and responsiveness of the site moderators, I have had the privilege of helping improve the experience for myself and others by giving feedback that they have implemented into practice. I am excited about where the site is going and am hopeful that it will continue to thrive as more curious and touch-starved people learn about the concept of platonic cuddling.
What kinds of things do you look for in a professional?
At various times in recent years, I have had the pleasure of employing professional cuddlers. It is often difficult as a private man with a hectic work and life schedule to find people who are willing to meet at my behest and at times with somewhat short notice. I find it extremely valuable that there are people who are willing to share affection tailored to my needs and who focus on me in exchange for reasonable compensation of their time and efforts. The consummate professional for me is someone who communicates clearly and consistently. Timeliness of communication and giving me the feeling of a genuine interest in helping me feel better are crucial to optimizing our experience.
What are some experiences that weren’t so positive?
I think that at the end of the day it is important to remember that the people who join sites like CuddleConnect are just people from all walks of life who are looking for a connection. Being mindful of the one generally shared goal, occasionally one will interact with another individual who they may not “mesh” with. I have found that this happens particularly when the communication is not clear and specific, and when expectations are not aligned. It does not matter if it is an interaction with another enthusiast or with a professional, if people do not approach each other non-judgmentally and with curiosity, the risk of friction rises. If we come to each other with empathy and understanding, even those interactions that are not uniformly positive can still be helpful to those involved and helped us all grow together as we try to navigate this exciting phenomenon of platonic cuddles!
