A Word Whose Time Has Come
Meet The Shuggle
We humans have names for everything — except this. Until now.
We humans have names for everything. People, places, things, experiences. All around the world, nearly everyone on the planet has had an experience for which there has been no name. I have invented a name for this experience and want to get it into the global lexicon.
The phenomenon I'm referring to is the experience when two people are walking towards each other, usually in a crowded space, and are on a path to bump into each other. In an effort to avoid bumping into each other, they both try to pass on the same side, then move to the other side, then back again. How many times has that happened to you? Hundreds? Thousands?
The word I've invented for this experience is shuggle. Shuggle. It's a combination of the words shuffle back and forth and struggle to get by. Shuggle! To get this word out, I've written a short story, a song with music and lyrics, a screenplay, some animated video clips and am working on a novel. This website provides an introduction to these elements as well as an opportunity to purchase Shuggle-related merchandise (e.g. hats, T-shirts, coffee mugs). Half of the net proceeds of sales will be donated to the Artists and Writers Charity Softball Game, a 501(c)(3) which supports four essential non-profit organizations.
Please help the cause to get this word out by telling your friends and families about the shuggle and purchasing and wearing a hat or T-shirt. Thanks for your partnership in this effort!
See It In Action
Watch the Explanation
The awkward back-and-forth dance that occurs when two people walking toward each other repeatedly step the same direction trying to get out of each other's way.
Origin: a blend of 'shuffle' + 'struggle' — coined by Paul Winum
Why The Shuggle?
Universal Experience
Nearly every person on the planet has done it — yet until now, it had no name. The Shuggle fills a gap in every language.
A Word That Sticks
Shuggle — a blend of 'shuffle' and 'struggle' — is instantly memorable, perfectly descriptive, and fun to say.
A Cause Worth Sharing
Every hat, tee, and mug sold puts this word in the world and helps to fund the Artists and Writers Charity Softball Game.
About Paul
The Shuggle was conceived by Paul Winum circa 2010. Paul is a Ph.D. psychologist who served as a leadership advisor to boards and senior executives for an international management consultancy for more than thirty years. Now that he is retired from that work, he has had time to advance the Shuggle project with the intention of getting the word out around the world.
Towards that end, Paul has written a screenplay, is working on a novel and has developed the content on this website. While somewhat frivolous and trivial, it has been a fun endeavor which he hopes will resonate with you!
