Hello and welcome to March's  'Postcards of Joy', my monthly newsletter bringing you stories that lift the soul. From my heart to yours. 

We may have met via a WI talk, my website, through social media @healthyhappy50 or my podcast The Joy of SUP - The Paddleboarding Sunshine Podcast.

Perhaps you joined us for a pop up screening of Brave Enough - A Journey Home to Joy. 

It is lovely to meet you again here and thank you for inviting me into your inbox. I know what a precious space this is.

I hope these stories lift your soul as they did mine. I'd love to hear what brings you joy and what you think of the newsletter. Please message me using the link.

From my heart to yours. Jo x x

Photo credit: Frit Tam of Passion Fruit Pictures

The Joy of Horseriding in the Lakes

I'm so excited to share a friend Clare Dyson whom I met in 2019 at the Wonderful Wild Women Birthday Party and Film Night in Kendal. In 2018 Clare borrowed a friend's horse and spent the whole glorious month of May from the saddle. With her loyal dog Finn and Pansy the Fell pony, they travelled over 250 miles wild camping along the way. Clare said it was the best thing she has ever done. 'On my last night I was moved to tears because I just didn't want it to end - I could have carried on indefinitely, we were such a strong team.' The BBC made a one minute film about the trio. Just click below!

You can hear Clare on the Outdoors Fix Podcast and The Everyday Adventure Podcast.

Photo credit: Clare Dyson

The Joy of Planting Trees

There is a Chinese proverb "the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is now." Inspired by her 4 grandchildren's concern for the planet, Janet Willoner, a 77 year old retired teacher decided to do just that, growing 500 trees from foraged seeds near her home in Yorkshire. The trees have now been planted and Janet is aiming to grow another 500 each year for the next ten years. "It gives me so much pleasure and so much joy" she said. 

It's International Forests Day on 21 March so it seems a fitting time to share Janet's story!

Click on the link below to read the article in the Yorkshire Post. 

Photo credit: Tony Johnson Yorkshire Post

The Joy of Breakfast - #EnerJoy 

Who loves a delicious breakfast? I have been a fan of Kate Percy and her #EnerJoy Go Bites brand for a few years now and I love supporting independent businesses run by women.

I used her recipe for the blissballs on my 162 mile coast to coast paddleboarding adventure. Amazing!

Here is a gorgeous recipe for pear and ginger Bircher. Let me know if you make it! What's your favourite breakfast? 

Photo credit: Kate Percy

The Joy of Reading and Sharing - the Little Free Library

Have you heard of The Little Free Library? My lovely friend Sam Bunch, author of Collecting Conversations and Menopause - A Hot Topic (and cartwheeler extraordinaire) created a Little Free Library outside her home in London. Sharing books, upcycling, building community and giving more people more chances to read, this is such a beautiful idea. 

Do you have a Little Free Library near you? Do you have a favourite book you'd like to share with us and others?

Photo credit: Sam Bunch

The Joy of Film - Feminista Film Festival 

I have been a huge fan of Laurie Mucha, Festival Producer of Feminista Film Festival for a while now. She's  hugely talented and dedicated to screening the most inspiring films about women and girls. She was also hugely generous, giving Frit Tam and me so much wonderful support with our film Brave Enough - A Journey Home to Joy. 

You can hear a podcast with Laurie on my Rachel Lankester's Magnificent Midlife Podcast. 

Tickets for Feminista Film Festival Virtual Tour are now available and I have really enjoyed the variety of films. One of my favourite filmmakers Hannah Maia's film Wood On Water (see pic above!) above about a 40 day canoe trip in the Canadian wilderness was wonderful. 

Let me know if you enjoy the festival!

Photo credit: Hannah Maia Media shared by Feminsta Film Festival 

The Joy of Curlews + Bird Song 

I love the sound of curlews and it was beautiful to hear their call earlier this week on my walk and spot three in a nearby field. 

The Yorkshire Dales National Park have a beautiful 2 mins audio of curlews and an article by Ian Proudler all about curlew conservation. They recommend listening with your headphones on and eyes closed to really be present to the curlew call. 

Did you enjoy it? I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

Picture credit: Mark Hankkila for Unsplash

Our film - Brave Enough - A Journey Home to Joy 

Wow, it has been quite a ride for film maker Frit Tam and me since I was last in touch. From a standing start in January, we have brought Brave Enough to over 450 people in our online pop up cinema evenings. 

Brave Enough - A Journey Home to Joy is the documentary film about my  coast to coast 162 miles from Liverpool to Goole picking up litter and raising money for The Wave Project and 2MinuteBeachClean Foundation. 

You can read about the film and our friendship here and here.

Cal Major, world record holder paddleboarder and ocean advocate called it "One of the most honest and beautiful adventure films I've seen in a long time".

Please click below to watch the trailer.  

How to see the film: our good friend, Fiona Orrell of Ocean Clear is holding a pop up screening online on 08 April of Brave Enough and Frit and I will be there! You can buy tickets here. Fiona is fundraising for Ribbles River Trust. 

Photo copyright: Frit Sarita Tam 

Thank you so much once again for being part of the 'Postcards of Joy' community. I hope you have found something that has lifted your soul and brought you joy. 

Thank you for inviting me into your precious inbox. I appreciate it. 

Until next time, from my heart to yours, Jo xx