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Dana Frost | Joy Scout

@joyscoutproject

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You deserve better than fine.
Scouting for joy in life’s messy in-between
The Next 100 Days starts Oct 13 ↓
(formerly Forced Joy Project)

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I am Dana, founder, griever, lover of life, and imperfect human.

My late husband, Brad and I started forcing joy after he was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive cancer and we needed to focus on something besides hospital rooms and scans. He went from healthy to dead in 100 days, leaving me to question my place in this world without him. Before that, I had my own cancer diagnosis and after that, I was the caregiver for my dad after his diagnosis.

You can blame the water or just acknowledge that sometimes shit happens (and then shit happens again. And again.)

My favorite ways to force joy:
✨#dailydips in Lake Michigan (yes, even in the winter)
✨Exploring far-off locations with my partner, Nathan
✨Cooking meals over a fire
✨Kitchen dance parties with my sister and her kiddos
✨Puppy snuggles
✨Making space for community

Thanks for being here. Now you tell me, what’s your story? Where do you find joy?

And thank you to @courtkentphoto for these images (and capturing me in my essence) for @mynorthmedia. by @joyscoutproject

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a year ago

Since Brad died, I’ve taken a project that helped us cope with his diagnosis and grown it into a business that supports others through their grief.

I spend a lot of my time holding space for people’s grief, but equally important, I’ve spent time holding space for the memories of those we’ve lost.

This is where Book of Stories comes in.

I created the Book of Stories for selfish reasons - simply, I wanted more stories of Brad. But when I put this idea out into the world, I saw how many other people wanted stories of their loved ones too. It’s been a humbling honor to see who people are buying the Book of Stories for:

• The young kids who will grow up without their dad.
• The friend who is getting married without her brother.
• The mom who is in her final days on hospice.
• The hockey legend whose team is still sharing stories, 50 years later.
• The widow who just wants to hear more about her husband.

Each story - from the toasts, to the tributes, to the hilarious inside jokes - brings a person to life on the page. Each story, another acknowledgment that this person LIVED.

After bootstrapping this idea on the side, it’s now time for this project to scale so that it can reach more people. In order to do that, an entire custom platform needs to be built to simplify the process both for my team and, more importantly, the customer.

✨I recently launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to build out the technology it needs✨

I’d be forever grateful for your financial support (every little bit helps!), but if that’s not possible, sharing this campaign goes a long way. My goal is not just to raise the money, but to raise awareness that this gift exists - and ultimately, have more excuses to talk about Brad 💛 by @joyscoutproject

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2 years ago

If you’re going to be a member of a shit club - like the dead parents club or the widows club or frankly, any other grief club - you might as well have some company.

The Forced Joy Club is a community that helps grievers feel less alone, provides a safe and judgment-free space to share stories and resources, and creates meaningful connections that help better navigate the complexities of grief.

It’s a community of people looking to find connection in the dark and shadowy moments of life, without guilt or shame. It’s a space to learn. To be seen. To heal. To grieve.

And when you join the club, you don’t just get immediate access to all future events, gatherings, and resources - you also get access to the entire backlog since the start of the community (which is coming up on a year!).

If you’ve been curious about joining, but want more insight into what’s available, scroll through to see everything you get (and there’s so much more that’s coming in 2024!).

And please share this post with others who are grieving and may benefit from a community. Grief is personal and it’s lonely, but it doesn’t have to be experienced alone. Come sit in the shit – and maybe also the joy – with people who understand.

✨Learn more at the link in my bio or at forcedjoyclub.com ✨ by @joyscoutproject

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3 years ago

What matters for the next 100 days?

Not the rest of your life. Not your five-year plan. Not something built for a future or past version of yourself.

Just the next 100 days.

When Brad was diagnosed, he started thinking about life in 100-day increments. He died 101 days later. I’ve thought about those 100 days ever since.

So I made the question into a challenge that we can answer together.

The Next 100 Days is a live, 100-day experience to get honest about what matters right now, and make one small move toward it each week.

✔️ Weekly prompts ✔️ A Digital Field Guide that becomes your personal record ✔️ Live gatherings ✔️ Weekly accountability hours ✔️ A private space for our cohort

You don’t need to know what your 100 days are about yet. Figuring that out is part of the challenge.

We kick it off on Day Zero on October 13. I’d love for you to be there.

Comment BRAD and I’ll send you all the info. by @joyscoutproject

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an hour ago

September joys ✨ by @joyscoutproject

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6 days ago

Is it possible to create a more aligned business that continues to help others while not sacrificing myself (and by self, I mean my mental, emotional, physical health. My financial stability. My sanity)?

Isn’t this the question for all heart-led entrepreneurs?

Is it possible to pivot to more joy? Not just for this community here but for myself, too?

I guess we’re gonna find out. by @joyscoutproject

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9 days ago

There’s no one else on the planet I’ve experienced so much of this world with, and it’s the greatest honor to get to witness this wild life alongside you. For better or worse, you are the mule to my nag. Always.

Happy full moon 40th birthday, Marg. So glad I got to ring in another year around the sun with you. Love you Pookie ❤️ by @joyscoutproject

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10 days ago

This morning’s equinox swim.

I met the sun on my little dock, the wind whipping through my towel, summer’s warmth noticeably gone.

But between the rocks, wild mint was still growing — its smell wafting through the cold morning air. One of the last traces of summer, stubbornly lingering as the season begins to turn.

Maybe that’s what I love about the equinox. It isn’t a clean break between what was and what’s next. There’s overlap. Remnants. Things we carry forward.

A day that holds both darkness and light. An ending and a beginning. A reminder that we can appreciate what was while still making room for what’s next.

Some things we release. Some things remain. Some things keep growing, even as the season changes.

Cheers to turning over a new leaf and to whatever comes next. by @joyscoutproject

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15 days ago

We always considered the fall equinox our anniversary. It was the day we officially got married, in a private ceremony over the water.

But 18 years ago we threw the most perfect party — two young kids, on the rooftop of a Detroit apartment building

Not one for tradition, we woke up together in a downtown suite we borrowed for the night. We sipped coffee in bed with Ben Harper streaming in the background, before separating until the ceremony.

I did my own makeup as my girlfriends danced around the 500 sq. ft. studio where Brad and I lived. I wore a simple dress and flip-flops and “accidentally” lost the veil that my mom purchased in the hopes that I’d suddenly become a more “traditional” bride. Brad wore a JCPenney suit because they had— in his opinion — the best customer service.

We got married on the rooftop of the building we lived in. If it rained, we decided we’d just buy a lot of umbrellas. We played music from an iPod, hooked up to a speaker. We drank Two Hearted IPAs instead of champagne and swapped the fancy cake for cupcakes.

I kissed Brad as soon as I got to the end of our makeshift aisle, not caring that I was “supposed” to wait until the end of the ceremony. Our best friend officiated, and we exchanged the vows we wrote together. We chose readings from children’s books, which our siblings read. We decorated with string lights, paper lanterns, and Costco flowers that we assembled ourselves. We passed around bottles of booze and danced with our best friends.

At the end of the night, Brad and I were the last ones on the roof. We sat under the glow of the moon and the city skyline and reflected on the incredible commitment we just made.

It was meaningful and fun and easygoing. It was completely us. From the beginning until the end, we did it our way. Which, like the marriage itself, is exactly how it should be.

Thank you, Bradford, for choosing me and letting me forever be the great love of your life. taken in Detroit, Michigan by @joyscoutproject

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17 days ago

In case you missed it: Forced Joy Project is becoming Joy Scout Project!

I’m completely changing up my business and my online community. I have no clue what I’m doing but trying to get it all done by the 10 year anniversary of Brad’s diagnosis on October 13th.

New website, new branding, new programs, new community.

I’ll be sharing more over the next couple weeks, so stick around as I fuck around and find out 🤷🏻‍♀️

(Tee by @detroitvseverybodyllc from a million years ago 💛) by @joyscoutproject

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20 days ago

Big changes are coming. With me and with my business.

Like most things involving grief and joy, it’s bittersweet and full of emotions.

There is so much more to share. Like what it means to create a business where the foundation is your own personal grief experience. And how you carry so much that maybe isn’t all meant for you. And how to grieve while also holding space for other people’s grief. And what it feels like when it no longer aligns.

I’m going to do my best to take you all along during this transition, and will share more over the next few weeks. I hope you’ll stick around.

And in the meantime, if you want to read the full piece, comment JOYSCOUT, and I’ll send it your way. by @joyscoutproject

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21 days ago

Life is busy.And overwhelming. And hard.

Don’t wait until it’s less so to make room for a little whimsy and joy.

Have the bonfire. Pull the cards. Sit under the stars.

Find the magic. by @joyscoutproject

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24 days ago