First Joyous Act (worth writing about) in 2012 can hopefully be seen by clicking the link below…

MAKING US PROUD

One Sunday morning, nursing a mild hangover, myself and 2 friends headed to Battersea Park to offer some support to my old school mate Ben Hammond. Ben is an inspiration to us all.  He is one of those rare people that has found the courage to actually do something and make change happen. He  has set up a charity Learn Burma and for the past two years he has been reminding us all of our most simple freedoms.

You can read some stuff and watch some vlogs about his story so far here.

Ben has made fundraising an art form. By asking the question ‘Are you Free to Dance?’ and encouraging us all to shake our stuff while he proves it, he shines a stark light on the plight of Burma.  Last year Ben danced the London marathon (yep, you read that correctly) and this year he is taking the question and challenge even further, by Dancing Britain.

So, in Battersea park we did our bit to  help Ben film his video promo for 2012. Did we feel silly dancing? Maybe for a second or two. But were we Free to Dance? Absolutely.

Now – I would share the link to the finished product but at the moment I can’t quite find the link for that video – bear with me, coming soon…..

I failed. I failed miserably. I only had to do 12! I managed 3, and then did another 3 which went undocumented and then I am ashamed to say I stopped. Just like that. Stopped because I felt so bad that I was behind…and it only got worse from there. I got chills whenever anyone mentioned a Joyous Act!

2011,  my annus horibilus in terms of spreading Joy. Actually, so as not to be so hard on myself I’m going to say that  my real failure was in sharing my stories of Joyousness. Ever since 2010 and my daily Joyous Act I can honestly say that being unexpectedly joyous when I can has become second nature. I do what I can, when I can plus just a little bit more and it helps keep me on the brighter side of life.

Now – 2012 is here. No false promises this time.

Instead I promise to  keep this promise:  I will  post  anything I deem worthy of Joyous notation as and when it happens throughout 2012. I hope there are still some / any (!?) of you  checking in on the blog from time to time and I hope that you have not been too disappointed in my  shameful performance during 2011.

I want to share an email I  received  from a good friend back in September . It made me feel so good – her Joyous Act to me was to send this email –  it  was so simple and it did reminded me (and I hope you too now) that Joyous Acts really are everywhere and it doesn’t take much to do one or be thankful for one that you have  received.

She wrote:

“I’m not sure why but today I thought I would have a look back at your joyous acts last year…..has made me smile a LOT, and smiles are hard to come by for me this week, so thank you! (Your joyous act for today complete, even though I know you don’t need to blog about them all now!!!)”

In 2011 I thought I needed to make it bigger and better, more of this, more of that but I was missing my own point. It should be easy, no pressure. So for the next 12 months, without pressure – I’ll see what I can do to share my joy with you as and when I think they are worthy.

Enjoy xxxx

I’m late – no excuse.

Bear with me…. your Joyous Act to me….

Rest assured – the good is happening, just not on time….