This has been an EPIC journey
2025 has been a very impactful year! The beginning of the year included stress relief sessions with Miami and Globe schools, and the recreation center and golf course. Teachers, miners, and recreation center employees gave amazing feedback. Including one who I ran into three months after the session to tell me that she was still using the techniques and activities I shared to help her relieve stress! Amazing feedback, and I’m so grateful that these are helping!
The Association for Applied and Therapeutic Conference was at the end of April in Charlotte, NC. The Tour of Joy presented about the experiment – “Can Joy and Humor Help Make a Town Happier” – the answer was YES! Watch the presentation here:
On the way back to Arizona from North Carolina, the unexpected happened! The van “Fridaaaah Joylita” blew a tire and ran off the road. Luckily it appeared as though there were no images. Unfortunately, that was not true as Katy BEE learned that she had a detached retina and had to get eye surgery.
The van was pretty damaged and she tried to make the best of her face down time that was luckily only four days. The recovery however meant she was very limited and spent a month being careful and conservative with movement. At three months she was given no restrictions on October 1st. Luckily, again because this other thing happened.
TRAGEDY in MIAMI!
The flood was horrible and incredibly scary! The Miami Artworks gallery, the 23Skidoo and the Lyric Soda Fountain were all damaged by high winds and hail and rain! Katy BEE stayed long enough to help get thru the emergent necessity of removing mud and water by leading crews of amazing volunteers! However, the van was mostly finished with repairs and she needed to return to Las Cruces NM to pick up the van.
Miami will take months or years to rebuild. The building is unsafe (for Katy BEE’s allergy sensitivities and trauma history), she continues to support from a distance especially as the next storms came in and created even more damage. She continues to offer emotional support, however cannot be there at this time.
She is currently in Truth or Consequences New Mexico, with the van which still needs some repairs.
Committing to teaching yoga, and other activities has been difficult with the van saga. She is taking a moment to regroup, and heal and will have EXCITING NEWS in Truth or Consequences soon! There is a need here (as there is really a need everywhere) for JOY and here’s the message:
FIND THE KINDNESS, SPREAD IT, GIVE COMPLIMENTS, BREATHE DEEPLY! For many, this time appears to be re-rooting in what is the most important in your life.
FIND YOUR PRIORITIES FOR YOUR HAPPINESS. When life appears to be upended, it is a way for us to regroup and find our own priorities and reflect on where we have been and where we are going. This is a powerful time.
Your help has kept the tour going. For now Joy First Foundation will be spending some months in Truth or Consequences (as well as some travel outside to places that need it – not ignoring Miami AZ of course). Your donations bring so much gratitude as JOY IS EXPANDING! With you the search for joy and the expansion of joy will continue. Financially, Joy First has to dig in and regroup. If you know of a grant opportunity, please send a message on our contact page, or
We DON’T GIVE UP with the Tour of Joy! Joy stops where it is needed! Stay tuned for more updates and the latest news!
breathe – love – breathe – take action – breathe – love – take action – breathe
YOU ARE LOVED!