It Smells Like Joy
(but not to everybody)
There is a fruit in Malaysia so smelly it has been banned in certain public places.
Hotels have literal signs asking, politely but firmly, not to bring it inside.
We’d heard the legends …
People shared whispers of how pungent this fruit is …
Locals gave us warnings about it with a grin …
A Google search didn’t ease my concerns. Desciptions of the “durian” fruit included: old diapers, gym socks, and rotten eggs. Sometimes, it said, the smell is mistaken for a chemical leak.
So, you can imagine my surprise when I heard people cheer when it was announced: “There is DURIAN for all to share outside!”
You can also imagine my panic when the event organizers told me I must try it.
I am happy to report that I tried it and survived to write this note to you. Kristi also tried it and is safe and well. We do both, though, still smell like it more than 72 hours later. A part of me does worry this might be permanent. We’ll see.
This is the very first stop of the tour. Thank you for all the messages, the cheers, and countless ways so many of you are supporting this. The World Joy Project is just beginning and already it feels like joy is moving ahead of us .. showing up in people, places, and moments we didn’t expect. Thank you for being part of it.
The journey from Nashville → Chicago → San Francisco → Singapore → Kuala Lumpur was a long one. To help make the longest flight (17 hours!) a little more enjoyable, Kristi created BINGO sheets for the four of us. Our son beat us by getting a full bingo first.
I’m collecting small glimpses of joy from around the world. Though we’ve just started, my inbox is already filling up. If you know any children who might want to add their art to this shared project, their drawings can be submitted here.
Our next stop will be the Philippines where we’ll have time with folks in Cebu and Manila. Still processing all we saw and learned in Kuala Lumpur, though.
We got to camp out with families and experience nature alongside a beautiful mix of families. Outside together, different ages, backgrounds, and life stories sharing the same space for a few days.
In my presentations, I had to navigate a room that held two very different energies at one: highly successful, high-performing entrepreneurs, founders, and leaders… and high-energy kids.
It’s a humbling thing to work very hard on creating your presentation and then realize that making shadow puppets with the projector is 1000x more entertaining.
The challenge of creating something for people of every age… speaking to children and the child within… is one I enjoy. Trying to create something that speaks to the oldest in the room without oversimplying anything while also being engaging, meaningful, and alive for the youngest isn’t easy. It doesn’t always work, but when it does there’s nothing like it. Adults feel surprised and the kids feel respected. I love it.
Joy doesn’t always arrived neatly packaged or politely scented.
Sometimes it’s like a durian. Strong. Unfamiliar. Slightly off-putting at first.
But then someone you trust hands it to you. And you try it. And you realize there’s something rich and generous underneath the intensity. A joy in seeing someone share their joy.
more soon from the road,
* Share a piece of joy!
If you know a child, a classroom full of children, or anyone in any part of the world who could draw, write, or show what joy looks like to them, I’d love to include it. Submit here.
* Help carry the project forward!
Becoming a paid subscriber directly supports our travel, the storytelling, and the sharing of these moments along the way. You can also buy me a coffee here.
*Pass it on!
If this made you think of someone, send it to them. Joy travels best that way.
LOVE.
👌shadow puppets!