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The Joy Team hits the streets

Park Bench at 8th & Everett, Portland, OR

Park Bench at 8th & Everett, Portland, OR

The Joy Team hit the streets yesterday in what some (well, maybe just my dad) are calling an act of Guerilla Happiness.

My daughter, Taryn, and I dropped 23 Joy Notes at random locations in Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon.  We started what I hope to be the first of many outings with 18 different card designs — 6 of them drawn by Taryn and 12 of them created on the computer by me.

Next to Subway on Main St., Vancouver, WA

Next to Subway on Main St., Vancouver, WA

All the cards have positive, encouraging sayings and / or images on the front, hence the name Joy Notes.  On the back is a note addressed Dear Friend, which lets the finder know the card was intended for him or her to find and keep.

Taryn and I happily dropped cards on park benches, in planters, tucked in cereal isles, propped in bathrooms, nestled in store windows… Together we had a wonderful time.

Bathroom for ICU waiting room at Emanuel Hospital, Portland, OR

Bathroom for ICU waiting room at Emanuel Hospital, Portland, OR

Driving home I was filled with joy at the thought that 23 people will stumble across these cards and their day will be brightened, even if just for a few minutes.

While Taryn and I have set out these seeds of inspiration in Portland and Vancouver, batches of Joy Notes have been sent to Seattle in Washington, Beaverton and Medford in Oregon, and Santa Fe in New Mexico.

Starbuck's on Main, Vancouver, WA

Starbuck's on Main, Vancouver, WA

To see photos of all 23 drops, visit our Facebook Fan Page.

The fronts of the first 18 Joy Notes are below.

Joy spreads!

Joy Notes 1 from ISpyJoy.com

Joy Notes 1 from ISpyJoy.com

Joy Notes 2 from ISpyJoy.com

Joy Notes 2 from ISpyJoy.com

Joy Notes drawn by Taryn, 6 years old

Joy Notes drawn by Taryn, 6 years old

4 comments

1 Lisa Brooking { 12.01.09 at 1:24 am }

if you want me to spread some Joy cards back East, I am flying there at the end of December. Send me some cards if you’d like to spread the love across the USA!

2 Carole Ranney { 12.03.09 at 8:34 am }

I love you idea and enjoyed your commentary. Good job!

3 Terri Thompson { 12.12.09 at 10:12 pm }

This is Becca’s Mom from NY – what a wonderful way to spread joy – maybe some day I will find a card In Upstate NY. And then I can spread the Joy. Thank you for sharing

4 Lindy { 12.28.09 at 9:47 am }

I LOVE this idea … so very cool and so wonderful in a gloom focused world… wow thanks for sharing this and I am going to have to do some of my own 🙂