Ever since I can remember I've had a calling to help the world heal through the power of Joy. It's taken many different forms throughout the years with being a nurse, a cancer survivor, an individual with childhood trauma, and a life coach. While all these roles have helped others, I've always known there was a higher calling, one that kept pulling at my heartstrings. The one that was seemingly impossible, yet a dream that kept coming to me time and time again. The one that keeps me up at night and the one that makes my heart beat in sync with my soul. It was from this that InJoy Journey was born.
The vision for InJoy Journey became clear after describing it to a friend I met in 2012 at Jack Canfield’s Success Principles Train the Trainer event while enjoying a glass of wine over sunset. She immediately started writing it on a paper napkin and it was from this moment InJoy Journey came to life.
Jack is the beloved author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series as well as The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be. His success principles and daily disciplines include visualization, specifically visualizing in detail exactly what you want to create while taking planned and inspired action to get there. As such, I’ve been working on InJoy Journey for quite some time, yet it has also taken a back seat to my healthcare career.
The acute awareness over the past several years of increasing violence, hate-filled protests, and bombardment of negative news has been the catalyst to pivot even more in the direction of my dream. We as a nation have become more divided. With all the negative news and the escalation of violence, we have lost our ability to see one another with kindness. That being said, the pandemic has supercharged the need for InJoy Journey, especially as I witness and read more about increased levels of pandemic-induced anxiety, depression, fear, etc.
Post pandemic research is showing that COVID-19 has resulted in a world mental health crisis. Studies have shown a major increase in anxiety, depression, stress, and substance abuse, to name a few. Our healthcare and mental health systems have been impacted, our schools and social service systems are not equipped to handle the volume of students and families needing support, and the economic impact of the pandemic on communities and families continues to linger.
The mental health impact of COVID-19 will likely persist and be long lasting for several years after the pandemic. So as we lean into our post-pandemic lives, many are seeking a new better consisting of connection, unity, and community.
If we are to recover from isolation-induced mental health disorders, then we as communities need to come together as a way to heal through collective support. When we strengthen the bonds of community, we increase resilience for all of its members. This is true not just post-pandemic, but for current and future challenges that have the potential to cause further isolation.
Research shows that strong engaging communities are safer, healthier, and happier. Making positive connections allows us to feel like we are a part of something bigger than ourselves. Bringing individuals together through joy-filled events and shared fun helps build healthy, resilient communities. And serving others, alongside others, is a key ingredient to increased health, wellbeing, and success.
With that in mind and my heartfelt mission to spark joy in this world, I plan to take InJoy Journey both on the road and virtually. The InJoy Journey's 3-tier plan will highlight people, places, and events that are uplifting and joyful. The goal is to tour the nation, capturing joyful moments, and sharing them. This is in addition to hosting Spark Joy events that facilitate building healthy, happy, and resilient communities by bringing individuals together through joy-filled activities, shared fun, and laughter.
The Journey will be showcasing unique places and stories through social media, documentaries, blogs, and vlogs so that people can join and feel a part of the journey through joy. We will be highlighting and exploring common interests and places such as National Parks, interesting sites, and the areas most people dream of visiting, bringing these experiences to their living room where they can enjoy the sights and sounds with others.
These highlights will focus on the commonalities that unite and uplift our spirits and will make positive connections that allow us to feel like we are a part of something bigger than ourselves.
The world needs more Joy ... which is foundational to healing the planet!
Let’s inspire a nation to In~Joy life together!
We are in the process of obtaining sponsorship, grants, and donations. If you would like to sponsor or donate please contact us @
starr@injoyjouney.comOr
If your community would like to participate in a Spark Joy event please reach out to us @ starr@injoyjourney.com