Sharing JOY ...

Presence and JOY are walking hand in hand in my life and together their balance is a rewarding and inspiring process.

In the present, I see the continuous gifts to connect with humanity and the collective journey we all seem to have - to share... Whether this sharing is verbal rumblings of frustration or pleasure, or perhaps just the sharing of a smile or even an agreed response to a shared experience - unconsciously or consciously - it seems we're moving through life SHARING



This said, I've found when I step out of my head, enough to be present, the opportunities present themselves to be able to share UPlifting moments - the smiles, the greetings, the teases, these playful inspiring moments are enough to fuel me through the day and I'm certain this is where our humanity meets our humanKINDness...

Life! Beautiful inspiring life!
With all it's challenges, it has so many wonderful moments to connect and share!
Hmmmmm :)

The Gift of JOY

Inspired by my dear friend Marcel Oudejans, who not only WOW's the world with his genius Illusions and his natural gift with Marketing, but he has truely been a magical blessing in my life and the work of my charity the UPliftment Programme. Thanks to Marcel's guidance the UP and I can grow our mutual intentions - "Sharing the healing power of JOY"...

Amazing!

JOY is just this perfectly tangible emotion that simultaneously gives and receives at the same time - like a HUG. I've been able to experience this with Care Clowning and Corporate Laughter facilitation, but I am right now so excited about JOY WEEK - a time for the community and I know once again with JOY as the focus, there is going to be a wonderfully, inspired exchange with all who come to share - yay yay yay.

If you need details for JOY WEEK go to http://www.agentsofjoy.eventbrite.com/



I think right now - I'm experiancing what so many doctors have researched "even the expectiation of joy, releases endorphins and serotonin (the happy chemicals of the brain)"

So here's to a successful JOY WEEK and my special thanks to my dear friend Marcel. And then further thanks to the UP's new manager Nick De Villiers, Soundworks for the Microphones, Carel from Paul Bothna for the PA System and all the venues for the spaces their sharing and all the public who're intending to come and share the wonderfully healing exchange of JOY...
Here's to all the press who've taken to the idea and given the UP so much exposure and here's to Big Dad for the Devine hand so constant in my life - a great JOY... :)

JOY sessions coming to Cape Town

JOY SESSIONS

Exciting times...

all the preparations for JOY WEEK are coming together nicely and a little rejoicing "yipee" is in my heart...



27th Muizenburg 18h30-19h30
28th TBC Gugulethu 18h30-19h30
29th Hout bay - Kronendal 18h30-19h30
30th MTN Science Centre 18h30-19h30
and
3rd MAY WORLD LAUGHTER DAY = 11h30 -13h00 V& A WATERFRONT



So all's just once again beautifully, divinely guided and I feel so blessed to be part of the growing JOY in our precious Africa.
yipeee!!!

Hildegard of Bingen

"I am the rain coming from the dew
that causes the grasses to laugh with the joy of life.
I call forth tears, the aroma of holy work.
I am the yearning for good.”



(Hildegard of Bingen 1098-1179)

Choice...

All the doomsday talk... all the recession, fear, chaos, world is ending, talk... arrrrgggghhhh...
I choose...
to see and say "these are
big changing, re-balancing times"
and every day every moment we can choose to find the light or focus on all the tragedy and trauma

I choose the light
The humanKINDness moments that unfold with sharing joy
with doing the best that I can with each moment and the bit of knowledge I have.
To keep learning more so my choices are always for the equal betterment of the planet and myself

I look forward to a day where Governments & corporations globally are transparent
not because they're forced to, but because they are proud of how ethical their books look
and how conscious and caring they are...
not just how great heir profits are...

Till then,
I choose to be the nikki I am...
the little me, doing my best to share a little love, a little light and hopefully alot of joy
whenever I take the time to be a giving, growing and sharing being - I feel inspired and forfilled and I feel connected to my Devine purpose

So here's to the moment and here's to the planet and all the change
here's to living in one of the most informative times this planet has ever known and here's to choosing wisely

With pensive smiles
Good night

APRIL FOOLS

REFLECTING on APRIL FOOLS DAY...

Wow, what a day... UP and about in the morning traffic at 7am handing out pamphlets
"VOTE FOR THE HUMOUR PARTY"
- if only it could be that easy...
It was actually a sweet little PR exercise to introduce PANSA and The UP and well, it created a whole lot of joy, whilst introducing our work - YIPEEE...


In just over an hour we had finished UP most of the pamphlets and the final few we handed out during the day... we were all so impressed with the positive response
The grumpy, traffic -trapped public seemed to enjoy the escape of joy, that both the Clowns and the pamphlets inspired.
I saw many a smile, quite a number of laughs and everyone seemed to enjoy the playful and joyful change to their routine traffic experience.

Thanks again to everyone who helped make this happy exchange happen, special thanks to all at PANSA who helped pull together the concept, pamphlets and sweeties...
Special thanks to my fellow Care Clowns
Lauren Steyn (aka - lolli)
Natasha Pontac (aka- Flowapowa)

ROAD Rage vs Popcorn

It's movie night...
I finish the movie and as per usual, I still have half of my popcorn, I've taken to keeping it with me and finding an appropriate needy being to share it with, so the popcorn accompanies me on my journey home.

I'm not in my typical perky mood, so when a 'BMW boy' aggressive driver flashes his lights at me, pressurising me to pull over, when I obviously can't I decide to entice a little and slow down... slowing us both down to the pace of the car in the lane beside me... admittedly i was antagonising the testosterone behind me.
Well what ensued was a play from my boredom of his brights in my eyes, to me allowing him to overtake, then him pulling in front of me and slowing down, to me overtaking him and then him once again tail-gating me.



This was when my fear took hold and all sorts of imaginary scenarios played out of him following me home, knowing where I live, coming back to attack and torment me for the rest of my life - FEAR - FALSE EDUCATION APPEARING REAL...
Thankfully teaching others about FEAR, came to my rescue - I could see how I had stopped breathing ,I had become tense, I had first played out FIGHT, then FREEZE and now I was playing out FLEE... I knew just acknowledging what I was doing, would help and it did...

I changed tactics completely - I observed a beggar pushing his trolley - I pulled over... So did BMW boy...
I picked UP the popcorn, got out of my car and walked straight up to 'BMW Boy', he already had his window rolled down and a mouthful ready to shout at me, but before he could speak I lent the popcorn over to him and offered him some...
Needless to say he was briefly dumb founded and when his words returned all he could mumble was "um, no... thank you... um why were you driving like that"

I paused, noticing his pasty mouth, his dilated pupils... The man was so high, he had no idea. I told him as much, walked past his car to the more worthy beggar, shared the popcorn with him, in return for his blessings and smiles.

BMW boy was now out of his car, trying desperately for me to acknowledge his sobriety, I eventually verbally agreed and was rewarded with his apology for his driving offense.

The joy of being in the moment - overcoming FEAR and choosing the realm of possibility that LOVE gives you...

POPCORN - the ultimate diffuser of road rage - tee hee

CARE CLOWNING...

This is MAfrika - my Care Clown, she visits the children in hospitals and institutions, to share joy... I agree with my Clown Dr brother Andres in Mexico (Risaterapia) -our Care Clown's are the best version of us.

JOY is a gift which simultaneously gives and receives - taking the time to get out of my busy mind and into the precious moment of sharing joy...

It's such a blessing, sharing time with the children, the staff in the hospital, the parents... to see their faces turn from down,solemn and concerned - to loving, laughing and joyously UPlifted... is pure fuel to my spirit.

Everyday I choose to commit to these joyous moments, I feel closer to the core of our collective humanKINDness...

I hope more people can connect with this inspiring volunteer work - please check out http://www.myggsa.co.za/connect/receivers/the_upliftment_programme/ and contact The UP to become an 'Agent of JOY'

Just Little JOY steps everyday...

How do I feel when someone smiles at the intersection and let's me into the flow of traffic?
How do I feel when I'm the person smiling and allowing another into the flow of traffic?


Simple...

yet we need to be reminded of the 'simple' sometimes, especially when our own stuff, our head clutter, builds a selfish wall which blinds us from the opportunities to share joy with simple actions.

Today I enjoyed the opportunities I had in the flow of joyous traffic...

JOY too today...

A small task and a little joy.


I took the fruit from my fridge, in two more days it might have been in-edible, with just a quick thought, it was in a bag and traveling with me through my day... The kindest Car Guard with the sweetest smile, received them with gratitude and the fruit became an opportunity for us both to share joy. How simple, how wonderful, how - yay-i-fying...

Finally to end the day...
I find The Institute of Play http://nifplay.org online and discover more people committed to the growth of connection and PLAY creates mutual bliss, I guess Care Clowning is play too...
wow what a life, what a time to be alive

Opportunities Multiply as they're ceased

A beginning, the beginning, a dream for so long and finally the words come and the procrastination ends, with each typing moment.

Herewith...
with sparkles and sunshine...
my JOY blog...the space I intend to openly share my personal journey towards making my life and this world a more joyous space.

Today
I shared hugs with many, smiled at quite a few and blew kisses to the street sellers and beggars.
Normally I like to keep some fruit or left overs to share with them, but kisses had to do.
And...
I started this blog, I hope others will find this space truthful, inspiring and hopefully even a little funny

A giggle a day keeps the blues at bay...