Let's Talk About Joy

Oooooooh my. What a year this week has been.

I am not going to weep or rue in today’s newsletter (although I easily could). If you, like me, are receiving a torrent of Substacks with news alerts and social media sound bites and painful updates, then you don’t need another bleak newsletter. 

Nope, no, nah, not today.

Instead, let’s talk about joy. (“What the hell, Sarah?!?”) Just hear me out.

Joy is out there. Sometimes it’s big and bold. Sometimes it’s quiet. Sometimes we create it. Often nature does.

In no particular order, here’s where I’m noticing joy lately:

• Running with friends at 5:30am — we get to see the sun rise!

• Eating more protein — I’m in my mid-40s and “more protein” has been a game-changer for me

• Giving my son permission to wear pajama pants to school on his birthday — it’s all he wanted (well, that and ice cream)

• Working pro bono on a project for Bras for Girls — yes, I’m obsessed with this nonprofit

• Setting up Zoom calls to connect with people I really don’t know but whose work aligns with mine — sure, it can be a little intimidating, but it’s also been SO awesome and cup-filling

• Watching Queer Eye — it’s our new family-favorite show (I love you, JVN)

Last year, I read “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” by Ocean Vuong. The book is written in the form of letters from a Vietnamese American son, Little Dog, to his illiterate mother. In one letter, Little Dog writes: “I want to keep living the way I am, in the beauty of the world, with the pain of the world in my chest, and I want to keep the joy alive too.”

Keep the joy alive: We can do it, even when we hold pain.

Joy is beauty, possibility, goodness. Joy keeps us grounded and gives us energy. Where can we derive hope? From joy, of course!

So, go for a walk in the sunshine. Text that friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Send an encouraging note to your favorite nonprofit. Catch up with your neighbor. Let your kid wear pajamas to school. Volunteer.

Notice it. Seek it. Soak in it. Get after that joy!

With love and appreciation,

Sarah

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😂NEED SOME IDEAS FOR ACCESSING JOY?

Give this article from The Guardian a read: ‘The two of us book a karaoke room for an hour. It’s like tiramisu for the soul’ What’s on your dopamine menu? | Happiness | The Guardian. It’ll take you four minutes to read through 15 great ideas.

💡NONPROFITS, HERE’S A WEBINAR FOR YOU

The webinar, “Navigating Uncertainty: Tools and Actions for Nonprofits to Adapt in a Changing Landscape,” is hosted by Susan McPherson from McPherson Strategies and Meredith Parfet from Ravenyard Group. 

I’ve long followed Susan and she is the real deal – and I’m excited to meet Meredith through this conversation. The webinar will explore how nonprofits can navigate this current period of significant change by employing tools to define threats, prioritize responses, and align actions with their mission and brand.

It’s happening Friday, February 7 from 11am-12pm PT/2-3pm ET. Sign up here.

✍️APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN FOR THE GRATITUDE NETWORK FELLOWSHIP

Submissions are now open for the Gratitude Network’s Fellowship program for nonprofit leaders of youth-serving organizations. A free, year-long virtual program, the Fellowship is designed to increase the Fellow’s leadership capacity and help expand their nonprofit’s impact.

Fellows are selected from around the world, building a global community.

Applications will close Wednesday, February 12. To learn more and apply, click here.

💘NONPROFIT LOVE

I first learned about Harlem Grown almost 10 years ago. I fell in love with this nonprofit instantly, visited the team, saw their urban farms, and have been a fan ever since.

Harlem Grown has an incredible origin story. Back in 2011, Tony Hillery started volunteering at PS 175. He saw first-hand the lack of resources allocated to the school and the poor nutrition of students. He also saw an abandoned and overrun community garden across the street from the school — and he rallied volunteers and raised funds and turned that lot into a thriving urban farm. He called it Harlem Grown and he’s been growing fruits, veggies, and the organization ever since.

These days, Harlem Grown serves about 20,000 youth and young adults. In addition to operating local urban farms and offering increased access to and knowledge of healthy food for Harlem residents, Harlem Grown provides in-school, after-school, and summer immersive programs for kids; organizes family programs and community celebrations on their farms; facilitates mentorship for teens; provides healthy cooking demonstrations; and runs a robust composting program. I love it all so, so much.

Want to get involved? Learn more here.