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inspiration interview with Myriam Joseph (and a joyful giveaway)
I started the Inspiration Interview Series because I wanted to know more about the people who share their work with the world and inspire me to practice courage, be creative, and dream big. Myriam Joseph is one of those people! Meet Myriam!
Image by Andrea JenkinsMyriam is a social entrepreneur, a chef, a writer, and co-founder of JOY Spread the Word. We met in 2008 - at the Lovebomb gathering. For me, it was love at first sight. Our conversations about shame, love, self-care, and being enough were transformative. I'm so grateful that she agreed to this interview. Grab a cup of tea and enjoy!
Tell us about JOY Spread the Word?
At first glance, the practical would argue that JOY! Spread the Word is a company that makes bamboo and organic cotton long sleeve jerseys with words written on them. While this is true, JOY reflects to me an opportunity to create a soulful life.
When my niece Lyric was born eleven years ago, scarcity and challenge occupied most of the space held in my family. When she came she brought with her an invitation from the Universe to reconsider joy. I was so profoundly affected by how her energy changed the dynamics in my family and in my own spirit, I wanted to somehow encapsulate that feeling and share it with others. I knew whatever manifested would reflect my desire for a whole new way of being.
Initially, the feeling manifested as jerseys and slowly evolved into an opportunity to learn, share, teach, bring and live. Through our jersey sales, JOY supports children in different parts of the world including the United States, to eat, to be educated and to know joy.
How did you choose the words that are on the jerseys?
In a conversation with a dear friend, she invited me to consider what blessings I would give to babies entering the world? If I could give only four gifts to children what would they be? There were so many that came to mind, so I further considered what I wished to have received myself.
Myriam is from Haiti, where many of her family members still live. After the earthquake ravaged most of the country in January of this year, Myriam began a very passionate outreach effort to bring relief to her beloved country. To date, she has raised over $15,000 that is being used to rebuild schools, purchase teaching materials, and support teachers.
Compassion fatigue seems to setting in right when Haiti needs the most help rebuilding. Hurricane Tomas did less damage than expected, but with 1.5 million people still homeless in Port-au-Prince, cholera and other illnesses are on the rise. Many of us want to help and aren’t sure what we can do. What are your recommendations?
This is a challenging question with which I continually wrestle. On my recent trip to Haiti, I was overwhelmed by the enormity of the circumstances. I held the belief that nothing I did would make an impact. When I discussed this with my uncle living there, he reminded me that there is a good possibility that I won’t see the results of my contribution in my lifetime, yet it was vital that I keep pressing forward.
My recommendation for people is to continue the conversation, not just about Haiti but about all people that are in need of our support for self-actualization. We have infinite access. Communities such as this one hold such incredible potential for influence. Sharing stories that you read about Haiti with one another will keep people engaged, create partnerships and empower people to live their truth.
In addition to being a social entrepreneur, you are a chef. When did that love affair start?
While my relationship with food has been longstanding, I’m still on the fence about whether or not it’s a love affair. I started cooking at age 10 when my Mom started working a second job in the evenings. In the mornings, she would leave items out on the counter and the a few pots. She would call home during her break and guide me through the steps of making rice and beans or stewed chicken. A pinch of salt, add some water up to where the pot is scratched, stir until sticky, oil until it starts to smoke and let it boil until you hear it start to sizzle.
I realize now that this exchange kept me connected to her while she struggled to take care of us. We collaborated together through the phone. To this day, I find it difficult to share recipes with friends since I have little experience with measurements or recipe instructions. Cooking for me is an intuitive process and luckily for me, people trust what I create.
What are your greatest creative inspirations?
Loving kindness from others is my greatest inspiration. When someone else has the generosity to share how they see me or encourage my potential, I am over the moon inspired. Loving kindness invites me to write, share, cook, dream, paint and love.
What are your greatest creative barriers?
My greatest creative barriers are the groups of squatters that take up space in my head. They lay around all day, shouting their bad advice and accusations, they don’t work, they don’t pay rent, they just talk, talk, talk.
Image by Patience Salgado
Now, for some fun!
From James Lipton, host of Inside the Actor’s Studio
What is your favorite word? Agrarian
What is your least favorite word? Phone tag (oops, it’s actually two words)
What sound or noise do you love? my husband playing piano
What sound or noise do you hate? Hacking (clearing of the throat)
What is your favorite curse word? Dirty ass
From JL’s Uncle Jessie Meme
A song/band/type of music you'd risk wreck & injury to turn off when it comes on the radio? Smooth jazz
Best show on television? Curb Your Enthusiasm
Favorite room in your house? The one where my husband is
Best concert? Taking my 9 year old niece to her first concert, Jason Mraz, she screamed the whole time, even when he wasn’t on stage
Brass or strings? BRASS anyone that would ask this question obviously has never been with a trombone player
If you could have anything put on a t-shirt what would it be? I love black girl hair
The best part about being your age? Being asked to show my ID when buying alcohol (“wait, you mean you actually think I am under 21?!?!?!?”)
Favorite Girl Scout cookie? The ones with the chocolate and caramel and coconut
Poker or gin or bridge? Go fish
Shower or bath? Sit in the bath while taking a shower
Favorite pajamas? Body lotion
Nightmare job? paramedic
A talent you wish you had? always knowing what to say
Dream vacation? A month long visit to Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur or renting an oceanfront beach house with my family and friends in Wellfleet, MA
What’s on your nightstand? wishes and gratitude
From the famous “Weird Things” blogoshpere meme
Tell us 3 weird things about you:
1. I’m just learning how to be a black woman in a black woman’s body
2. I listen to my car radio on “scan” the whole time I’m driving
3. At night, I shower with the lights off
From Smith Magazine’s Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs from Writers Famous and Obscure
A six-word memoir that captures your life: Love always wins, always, always, always.
Myriam has offered us a generous giveaway of her incredible JOY! Spread the Word shirts. Two folks will each win two shirts!
This is Charlie wearing his Compassion shirt!
All you have to do to win is leave a comment telling us what one word is inspiring you today!
I'll close the comments on Thursday.
Today, my word is strength.
And to Myriam - thank you for bringing light to the world and sharing yourself with us!
Brené Brown
Congrats to Gena and Kristine! We've emailed you!
Reader Comments (167)
My word for the day... acceptance.
My word of the day, "Curiosity"
My word, particularly after reading this interview?
Authenticity.
Thank you for this beautiful dialogue, these rays of each of your sunshiney spirits.
tomorrow's world is for our children.
My word for today - comfort - both seeking and giving.
Fab photos too!
My word today is Kindness
Embrace
my word today is hope. as in, i am filled with it. : )
that is the word I refer to daily. If soemone calls and asks how I am, I always state I'm fabulous. I am a sales rep, I talk all day long, and needless to say, state I am feeling fabulous all day long. I do have "those" days once in a while where I don't, but I genrally have a great and fabulous day. It works!
My word today is : SIMPLIFY
My word... DREAM
My word is INTENTIONAL.
- Thank you!
Find it, live it, love it!!
thank you for this brilliant interview!
My word: patience.
with EVERYTHING today.
My word for today (maybe tomorrow too) is LIGHTHEARTED. I am only aspiring to be lighthearted, but it is one of my goals and I am headed toward it. Cheer me on! I'm lighthearted.
What a Blessing this has been...
Thank You so much!