Big Joy Everywhere!

-- Stephen Silha and the Big Joy team

Parker at Katz's Delicatessen! (with director Eric Slade and producer Stephen Silha)

Why did you choose to crew for the Big Joy Project in New York?

I used to be a media producer.  I was recently looking back on how much I enjoyed it.  I thought it would be fun to help you out -- and that it would also put me back in touch with something that I used to do and love. Working with the Big Joy crew was great. It was like picking up a thread of my own life. I also got a big kick out of the individuals I met. The people we interviewed were so interesting.

What was your favorite part or the experience?

Well, one wonderful moment was when we were interviewing David Del Tredici, the composer.  He was wearing full leathers.  He was talking about setting one of James' poems to music and he broke into tears.  It is a love poem and you could see that he really loved the work, and he really loved the person, and it was just very real.

I also loved doing a Big Joy salon fundraising party (at Gilbert Parker's).  A lot of people are afraid of doing fundraising.  But I noticed it has a way of connecting people with similar interests that is really fun.  I saw old friends and met new friends there.

What do you like best about James and his work?

I love the freedom and creativity of his philosophy with that Zen twist.  I love the reminder of being in the moment -- and his playfulness.  "Follow your own weird," seems like follow your own bliss, and I love how he really promotes allowing your creativity to drive your actions and coming at things from a place of joy.  Just being reminded of this makes me feel good! 

What inspires you about the Big Joy Project?

Well that the goal to take the Broughton ideals and philosophy and share it so that everyone can experience Big Joy.  It's sort of like evangelizingjoy, and that inspires me!

Can you share something inspiring you've done in the last month? I have a friend who does an amazing dinner on New Year's Eve every year.  He has dinner for 60 in his home.   This year's theme was "Masquerade," so all the food looked like something that it is not.  For instance, the appetizer looked like dessert, the dessert looked like cheeseburger and fries.  There was a course called, "Release your inner artist" where each table got a set of pallets and paint tubes that were actually food spreads.  They got to paint their own meal!

It takes a lot of creativity--preparing and decorating.  Along with others, I help him plan and create it.  It is such a creatively inspiring thing to participate in!