So I’ve just returned from an inspired trip to Romania and Bucharest is a fascinating city…
One of my highlights is the people, joyful people who’ve found ways to still be fun, kind and caring – truly inspired examples of humanKIND. Their lives are deeply challenging, they’re still recovering from years of Communism and a current political and social structure that still manipulates the poor. And yet they still find joy…
Sure some may say, it’s just my perspective and that’s just it -my perspective is a joyful one and that’s what this blog is for a space to share that joy… One of my highlight experiences
We’re in a taxi, communicating through smiles and broken Romanian and English, when we pass a sign that says COMEDIA OPERA – so I’m looking at the taxi driver’ through his review mirror – gesturing at the sign “so is that teatro por OPERA COMEDIA?” and he’s immediately transformed into a performing artist with arms expressinve a sonly the Latin cultures know how “Da, Da, it’s COMEDIA OPERA – like haaaaaa haaaaaa hoooooo heee hee heee heeee…” . And that is me, finished giggling myself silly in his backseat, as he takes his comedy opera to another level “hooo hoooo haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa”. We all laughed and were left with this precious memory.
In fact OPERA COMEDIA is my new favorite JOY exercise and I encourage you all to create your own COMEDIA OPERA SONG… in fact maybe we should have comedy opera in every community – at least it’s an Opera we’ll all be able to understand for sure… 
JOYFULLY…
When I laugh, all that silly grumpy adult stuff just melts away… When I laugh – I feel so good, I feel my body tingle with joy and possibility…
and the good news is… it’s actually scientific – laughter increases the release of endorphins and seratonin and chemically after a good laugh – I actually really do feel better – YAY!!!
So I find myself thinking if we know laughter’s so good for us, how do we get more and more of it and how do we get others to get more too… Well it takes us all creating it and here’s the thing – if we’re joyful we are peaceful too
SO BE PART OF WORLD LAUGHTER DAY THIS YEAR and LAUGH for WORLD PEACE (your peace and for everyone else too)
ON SUNDAY MAY 1st – thousands will be laughing together for world peace
this is what we’re doing in Cape Town – a laughter flashmob at the V&A Waterfront at 12h25 exactly – see the link below for more info
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121302961280593
hee hee hee – ho ho ho
Yay precious sUPporters of JOY…
Wow this joy journey is just wonderful… everyday I am amazed at the inspired transformation happening to this planet. I live a life full of miracles and I am so excited to be part of the family of solution-orientated folk who are all taking daily actions to share possibility, grow dreams and transform our world…
As promised – here’s your monthly UPlifting episode… intended to share stories of some of these beings…
This episode is especially focused on Dr Louise Van Rhyn – the founder of SYMPHONIA, an organisation strengthening the fabric of South African society. She is an inspired example of humanKIND, a remarkable reminder of the individual contribution we can ALL make when we choose to be of purpose and choose to live in possibility!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQtgKduV3ZY
ENJOY!
The UP is a monthly UPlifting programme – showcasing people on THE UP – truly inspired, solution-orientated individuals who are transforming the planet. Proudly brought to you by The UP and myself – with our combined passion for sharing the Healing Power of JOY. “Joyful people are creative and caring people”
SPECIAL THANKS to:
Dr Louise Van Rhyn & Symphonia – http://www.symphonia.net
These UPlifting programs’ are made manifest by charitable contributions – if you would like to sUPport the growth of joy – go to www.up.givengain.org and sUPport us (with giggly gratitude)
Yay (def.) is an exclamation indicating joy, approval, congratulation, or triumph.
When I say “Yay” – you say “YAY” – Why? Because it feels so good. Why? Because it’s a perfect expression of joy; because even if you don’t feel like saying it, when you do say YAY – it makes you feel like saying it again – YAY!
Here’s an article on JOY & YAY… thanks to MetaVarsity for encouraging me to write it…
http://www.metavarsity.com/pages/archive/2011/mar/ArticleMar11.html
Wishing you all a year full of YAY!!!
It’s the choices we make, not the chances we take, that create our destiny
Larry Joe is an inspired example of humanKIND! A living vessel of hope and possibility…
Just 3 years ago, Larry was still a drug addict and criminal on the run from his life the authorities. Today after handing himself into the police, choosing to take responsibility for his life – serving half of his 5plus sentence & re-connecting with his music; He is now FREE!
He is our chosen feature for the month of March on our online show – THE UP – he is on The UP and an inspirational icon of our time
YAY LARRY YAY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx5biXuxG5c
This list is actually a few pages long – but here’s a few highlighted benefits…
· Boosted Immune system
· Renewed motivation, creativity, morale, and meaning.
· Enhanced teamwork, trust, solution orientation and fun focus
· Increased energy and resilience to stress.
· Enriched quality of work/life balance.
· Elevated enthusiasm and self expression.
· Improved workability
· Alleviation of symptoms of stress, burnout, anxiety and panic attacks.
· Increased general wellbeing.
· Less cynisism & more potential for inspired possibilities
Joy Sessions can be tailor made and themed… they can last anything from 15minutes to a full day…
I have been officially facilitating joy for 7 years and I’ve found the swiftest ways to improve our Wellness and Uplift morale, is to inspire everyone to re-connect with their ability to play and laugh again.
A joy session is highly energetic and interactive and combines Laughter exercises with Playful games – activating the imagination and the happy hormones that physically enable a good mood. I’ve watched highly stressed adults arrive at a session cynical and unsure and within minutes I see them transformed into joyful and playful, anything is possible beings again.
Pic Above: Anglo Mine in Namibia's Joy Session
Thank you for your interest in JOY, I love every opportunity I get to support South African adults with valuable JOY tips & exercises. They are proven to help to inspire more creative, uplifted & healthy individuals, teams, communities and countries.
Please feel free to contact (Tasneem) 021 465 1000 for a more detailed quote on a JOY SESSION or JOY TALK – (I am always happy to tweak my sessions to your theme and explore the most joyful path for our work together.)
There are two ways to live: you can lives as if nothing is a miracle or you can live as if everything is a miracle – Albert Einstein
Today my dearest JOY friends…
I am thrilled to share news of a miraculous new beginning… THE UP has been actively sharing joy for 7 years and just yesterday we started our global campaign to share JOY with the world…
This dream has life in a new online monthly show that we produce – sharing UPlifting stories & inspiring the “yay” sayers of the world to keep their dreams & actions alive. ENJOY THE FIRST episode – featuring the inspired, “liver of dreams” tractorgirl – MANON OSSEVOORT.
http://www.youtube.com/user/upliftment#p/a/u/0/aLZWmqSRVvg
Wishing you all an inspired month – full of miraculously LIVED DREAMS!
WOW… What a Year already – What a life…
What an inspired time to be alive – when possibility & transformation are the words I most frequently experience…
Yesterday was another gift of a day, I spent the morning in a Ben & Ros Zander’s talk – on “possibility” and well dear joy friends – in a nutshell, it is just further confirmation to me, that the “Yay Sayers” of the world are at the heart of the transformation that is gently shifting the world.
I read their book last year “The Art of Possibility” (do what you need to – READ THE BOOK)… And seeing them in action with 350 people at the Baxter Theatre was so WOW – words just can’t describe. I must give a big YAY to Symphonia for their inspired work & for keeping the possibility conversation alive in South Africa. Hope the DVD sells like wild-fire… (more info on them at – http://ow.ly/3Knzg)
I sit here UPdating you all – still in awe… being in the enthusiastic presence of Ben Zander – a truly inspirational leader and artist – is like being fed with JOY fuel, till you are so full with light, potential, hope & possibilty that you overflow with tears and every cell in your body sings with delight. Laaaaaaa!
Watch his Ted Talk – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9LCwI5iErE
And so with JOYful possibility in my heart – I wish you all inspired possibility living… it starts with us choosing to be in this inspired way of being and then it just ripple effects outward – joyfully effecting the planet!
YAY!
This is it dear friends of joy…
Another new opportunity, our chance to choose the life’s we’ve always envisioned for ourselves and act on those choices… When I think on the actions which bring me joy – there a few especially notable ones that I feel inspired to share…
- DREAM – To dream the impossible dream… to submerge myself in the feelings of the dream I’ve truly imagined – JOY sweet joy comes with this inspired dream time
- HARMONY – When the balance is right, whatever that may be – between rest & work, between dreaming & action – then I find myself in the flow or the zone and the joy is harmony’s best friend – inseperable
- APPRECIATION – when I take the time to deeply appreciate ALL that is in my life (my body, my health, my loved ones, my family, my home, my opportunities and the list goes on… ) In an instant I am full of joy
- MOVING – my body… when I am swimming, dancing or playing -BEing in all those ways where my body’s is moving the body that I so love (boy has she been patient with me) – moving my body tunes into the joy frequency
- COMMUNITY – when I share meaningful time with others, especially when I am of service to my community – I am fulfilled and well, then joy follows…
So dear friends of JOY… I wish you ALL…
JOY SWEET JOY for 2011
(however that manifests for you)
Twenty Eleven – so be it on Earth as it is in Heaven…
up-to-date reflections of laughter, joy, happiness and humanKINDness – shared with love and gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the SOLUTION, the MEDICINE, the OTHER SIDE of the coin, which makes our world so unique