This video absolutely made me giggle with glee! And sometimes, you just need a giggle!
Where We Are & Where We're Going
Our Happy Book Adventure has been on my mind over the past couple of weeks. The pace of the books is slowing down considerably and one book is in fact at a standstill. Danette has been absolutely awesome and instrumental in connecting with people, making sure they have all the information they need, encouraging everyone to keep up the energy and the momentum but at this pace, the books will cross the finish line in 2012... for Christmas 2012!
Now, we have done a powerful job so far. The books have traveled to the UK and Australia, across Canada and the US. There have been cookies and connections and smiles and gifts. We've received so many messages that the books are becoming more beautiful all the time, that people are generously sharing their art and their creations. These are treasures - and the journey we're on is to be treasured too.
So, how do we sustain the energy and pick up the pace? I'm weighing the options and have something in mind, but I'd really love to hear your thoughts. I'll gather everyone's input and give it a think and next week I'll let you know the direction we're headed.
Thank you so much for your thoughts and input, for the joy you share each week and the happiness you spread. You are beautiful and a blessing in my life.
hugs,
Jamie
Bliss: The Bliss book is on its way to bkobe in Minnesota!
Giggle: Pink Heels in Michigan is about to receive the Giggle book!
Mirth: The Mirth Book is in Maryland with Angela Raincatcher!
Glee: Update coming soon!
What made you happy this week?
Posts
Jamie, your question is hard to answer--I guess a project of this scope, with so many people involved, is hard to manage. I've actually forgotten about the books recently, especially since very few people post about them when they have them. For me, it's just plain fun to check in every Friday with the Happy Book tribe.
ReplyDeleteWell, I am not even part of the original Happy Book circle because I found your site much later, but I have loved the connections and the happiness of the Friday check in and blog-hopping!
ReplyDeleteFirst, that was the cutest video ever! I needed that smile, thank you.
ReplyDeleteAbout the book slowing down, it is that time of year when people are psycho busy, perhaps when life returns more to normal and people are home more that the pace will pick up?
Do you want to keep going Jamie?
Well, you're right about that video, I giggled and giggled and giggled some more!
ReplyDeleteI can understand your concerns about the books. As I am the penultimate person to receive the Bliss book, I do wonder if I'll ever see it! I bought the book and have a little plan for my own copy. I thought I might just leave it someplace with instructions for whoever finds it to pass it on and report back to my blog. However, I've had this plan for weeks and still haven't done it!
I enjoy coming by most Fridays, but perhaps you could just leave the books to do their own thing and eventually work their way around the world. I really enjoyed working through Wreck this journal with you. Are you thinking of hosting another similar book group in future? I would definitely be up for that.
This seems a great opportunity to thank you for hosting these groups and bringing all us bloggers together to share our thoughts and creativity as well as our happy. You are a star Jamie, a very special person. Thank you!
I love hearing your thoughts, everyone. I just love how projects take on a life of their own.
ReplyDeleteIt's been fascinating to see that people generally don't share pics of the book when they receive it. The impression I'm getting is that no one wants to ruin the beautiful surprise for the next people in line.
Yes, I have plans to run another book club. The thing is that I would prefer not to be maintaining two events concurrently. So I had thought when this wrapped up, I'd announce the next one.
How wonderful to be reminded of this, thank you! I am on the list to receive a book at some point ~ and look forward to doing so.
ReplyDeleteAs Suzie mentioned - Summer can be a really routine-shattering time for people ~ and perhaps things will get into better flow in the Fall.
I'm wondering too if there may be a bit of an intimidation factor now that the books are filling up with creative wonder? Sometimes a lovely idea in one's head can appear to pale in comparison to what has already been circulated - and this can render one impotent for a little while. I'll start working through that now before my copy of the book arrives!
How to re-charge the momentum? Other than personal follow-up to ensure everything's okay and to support the recipient (which it sounds like you're already doing), I'm not sure.
Thank you for hosting this project. And thank you for the Kitten/Turtle video. I'm going to post it on my FB page to brighten the day of my friends!
I love that video! I have to say I have not been as IN to this book club go-round as I was in Wreck This Journal. I think it is because as I am sitting here waiting for my turn at the book....I do nothing. I don't feel like I am participating in any way and the fact that NO ONE so far (at least I don't think so) has for some reason shared anything about the book ...the parts they added or how some of it looked to them when they got it..etc...has really bummed me out big time. I thought that was the whole idea? I thought we were supposed to get the book...keep it for a week...but also SHARE with the others in the group what we did or what we thought when we got the book....pics or videos of how it looked...what was included....what we added..etc? Maybe I am more visual to feel physical? At one point I almost gave up and was going to even email you and just tell you to take my name off the list to receive the book in the future because at this rate it seemed to me I would never get my chance at the book or by the time I did get it..it would be so big and large and heavy with everything added...I would not be able to afford the postage to send it on to the next person in line.
ReplyDeleteI think what would have been better perhaps for me anyway...would have been if I had purchased my own copy of the Happy Book....worked on it every week and posted what I DID in my own book along with waiting for the others to share. BUT others were not sharing. When I came here each week it has only been to see updates on WHERE the book was....who had it...where it was going next. No one seemed to show anything about it when they actually had it and was working on it.
So this was a huge disappointment to me and a big disconnect for me. I never really felt a part of this Next Chapter and I don't believe I will really feel part of it even if I ever get a book now...because it has been so very long...and nothing else has been shared.
Maybe I got spoiled on the Wreck This Journal where everyone had a book and everyone did something every week that they then shared? I don't know...I guess I was expecting something like that...at least for people to share the progress of the books along the way would have been very very nice for me.
I figured at the rate they were going it would be YEARS before the books ever got done. If that is the case you can please just remove me from the list because I am not sure I want to follow something that long term especially when I don't really feel this is going anywhere fast you know?
I am sorry if this hurts anyone's feelings and I hope you do not get upset by my comments...but it has been how I have been feeling now for awhile....and I figured now would be a good time to share.
So for me...I am disappointed....about the fact that it has been so long without any sharing of the progression of the books. I think if there had been sharing of the books in the different stages via pics and videos that would have helped me. ...but there has been nothing regular and in fact...I do not believe anything at all in that regard. Bummer....
I don't want to quit but I don't feel I have really been a part of anything to begin with....so this whole experience has been one of total disconnect for me. Sorry :(
Not to worry, Melinda. It's amazing to see how projects take on their own personality. Soul Coaching was different to Wreck This Journal and this is different again. The mail-around was an experiment in a different approach. And I'm sure the next one will be different again, hopefully something you feel more connected to.
ReplyDeleteSally, you've made some interesting points as well - I hadn't thought about the book getting more and more expensive as it gets heavier and heavier!
You are all giving me great things to think about. Thank you.
There are so many people involved in this project that it is bound to slow up and stall in some cases - but I have to be honest and say that I have forgotten about the books at times but I blame that on myself - just life taking over - I look forward to eventually getting the book - should be interesting!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking that there is less of a community feeling that comes from sharing an experience this time. Maybe something like a page roulette could be fun. You, Jamie, spin the wheel and a page number comes up. That page in the book becomes an optional exploration theme for everybody for the following week. People who have the book snap a photo and give us all a sneak peek at that page in progress. People without the book can blog about their exploration/experience on the theme, or choose to blog about something else!
ReplyDeleteSince I'm not "in the group" so to speak, and just found this blog recently, I don't feel in the loop at all as far as the book goes. It's a big mystery. I think Helen's idea of page roulette would be a nice way to include those who didn't make it into the mail-around--a way to make the circle larger.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Melinda. It has been hugely dissappointing that almost no one has shared the books. I've lost interest soley for that reason. It is nice to read about people's happy exploits but really, I want to see the books. I want to know what is happening in their journey. I can't understand why so few people have posted anything at all about them. To me that was mostly the point.
ReplyDeleteJamie, I agree with Melinda. I participated in Soul Coaching and part of Creative Women book club. I feel a bit disconnected with this one since I'm not motivated to post. I think if I had my own copy, I'd participate and post about my happy much more.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely join your new book club. Thanks for coordinating and maintaining the book club. With a mail around, it's probably even more work.
I know it's a lot of work to run two book clubs concurrently but I do miss the feeling of community that was created with the other book clubs. So if you decide to to run another one concurrently, I will definitely join it!
Hi there Jamie... I suppose I'd have to agree with Melinda too... for a while, I was able to keep my own momentum going, but with summer and the kiddos home from school among other things, and without the cohesive energy of the group that I've experienced so richly with the other books in tnc, I'm afraid I fell short on my own check-ins and feel a bit disappointed by the group's apparent fizzle. Also, to be honest, while the book will get here eventually (probably), I'm not nearly as excited about it as I once was... like Thien-Kim said above, I just miss the sense of community... that, for me, is where the real meat is.
ReplyDeleteWell, gang, everything will be changing Friday the 27th so be sure to check back in!
ReplyDeleteI've just received a copy of The Happy Book in the mail today. I'm really excited to be part of this project and the happy energy by all those that seem interested in participating. What has made me happy this week is seeing how excited my 6yo was when he got on his school bus for the first time this school year.
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