In The Media

Newsletter #25, January 2021

Uplook: The RadJoy Newsletter

Taking to the Cloud

It’s been a while since we’ve sent out a RadJoy Newsletter. And those of you who have received it in the past may be surprised to discover this edition awaiting you in your computer, rather than in your mailbox. Back in 2009, when I was in the process of founding Radical Joy for Hard Times, I took a workshop with fundraising maven Kim Klein. She recommended that nonprofits send out newsletters that arrive in people’s homes in a tangible printed form, since, unlike email newsletters, they tend to lie in people’s homes and get picked up more than once to be read and reread.
Ever since we published our first newsletter back in 2010, it was designed by my husband, Andy Gardner. Last August Andy died of liver cancer. Our leadership team then discussed whether we should try to find another graphic designer to create the printed newsletter and continue to send it to those who had led a Global Earth Exchange or made financial contributions, as in the past, or if we should begin to use a digital format and make it available to every member of our community. We decided on the latter option. We’re taking to the Cloud!
You’ll find here the same kinds of stories that appeared in our print newsletter: news of recent events, stories of the RadJoy Practice, upcoming events, and a list of our generous donors. We hope you’ll keep this newsletter open on your computer, as you might previously have left it lying on your coffee table, and that you will share it widely.
            —Trebbe Johnson
My husband, Andy Gardner, who designed this newsletter for eleven years.

Greeting the Unwelcome Guest:Our Global Day of Mourning

“How do we stay in affectionate relationship with an unwelcome guest?” mused Francis Weller. The unwelcome guest he was referring to was coronavirus, and Weller, author of The Wild Edge of Sorrow, was speaking at the opening webinar of RadJoy’s daylong Global Day of Mourning on January 10, 2021.
Compelled to respond to the pervasive grief that the pandemic has left and continues to leave in its relentless wake, we invited people around the world to pause for one day and reflect on the losses and sorrows they’ve experienced. We also wanted our varied offerings to provide comfort, courage, and inspiration. (continue reading)

RadJoy Members Make Beauty Round the World

Rumi wrote: “There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.” And as members of our Radical Joy for Hard Times network continue to demonstrate, that wise counsel also applies to the ways in which we “kiss the ground” of wounded places by finding what’s beautiful about them and making them more beautiful still through our gifts. Here are a few examples from around the world:
Harriet Sams and her family had only been living in France for a few months when her little boy had to have surgery back in their native England. (continue reading)

2020: Working Together to Respond to Crisis

We’ve all been struggling during the past year to adapt to the restrictions imposed on us by the pandemic, which keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe. It hasn’t been easy for anyone—or for any organization. In 2020, RadJoy experienced some real challenges—and come up with some very creative responses as a result. (continue reading)
 

Our Wonderful Contributors

Abundant thanks to all the generous donors who have contributed to Radical Joy for Hard Times from January 1, 2020-January 22, 2021. We so appreciate every single gift, whether it is $5 or $5,000. Discover our honor roll of donors here:

Upcoming Events

Radical Joy for Hard Times Earth Ambassadors Harriet Sams, Sasha Daucus, and Jess Kovach are leading a collaborative project with the innovative climate change group, Deep Adaptation, to explore ways of relating to wounded places and, in the process, deepen awareness of ourselves. The program is full, but if you’re interested, let us know, and the facilitators may offer another one.
Global Earth Exchange
June: Our 12th annual Global Earth Exchange will take place this year! We don’t yet know the exact date—it will either be the 19th or 26th—or what form it might take, but we will definitely be uniting around the world once again to honor wounded and endangered places and celebrate our love of them.
Visit our website!

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