I have, as far as I can remember, NEVER had a group experience remotely like this. It’s why I stopped working for other people.
The closest I get is on walks with my awesome husband where we come up with all kinds of crazy ideas, some of which we actually implement. I feel like I live on a totally different planet to you — I need to find more of your kind.
<33 So real. I mean, it IS very rare! We don't often have creative *control* in the first place to ask for conditions like this anyway, so it really depends on our relationship within the work we're doing. And why having generative nooks even in our relationships, like you and your husband, is such a beautiful thing!
SO GOOD! For some reason this makes me think of metaphors, how they're more than poetic comparison but are also (sometimes) mental models for how we behave in the world. Our planning sessions are more than coordination, they're seedlings for how our gatherings will exist in the world.
Oh man that isolation is so real. I find that literally anything that takes me away from staring at a computer works; writing outside, taking yourself on a field trip and going to a random gathering for inspiration, bringing heightened attention to any meetings you’re in about what *feels* good and not so good. It’s also about the simple stuff: putting on music, getting a nice cold fridge seltzer, grabbing some pens and paper you really like. Romance your ideas! The physical environment should feel pleasurable. Also bringing in one-off facilitators you admire for interviews or brief phone chats so you don’t feel so alone! Also makes me wonder about designing for more open-endedness in the retreat so you don’t feel like you have to solve for every little piece by yourself. Is it more joyful for you to create warmups for everybody and then send them into breakouts vs you having to plan the exact content of every piece? These are a small sampling of the 10,000 thoughts i’ve had when stuck in the same situation, ha! Curious what you’ve tried and are feeling stuck on.
I have, as far as I can remember, NEVER had a group experience remotely like this. It’s why I stopped working for other people.
The closest I get is on walks with my awesome husband where we come up with all kinds of crazy ideas, some of which we actually implement. I feel like I live on a totally different planet to you — I need to find more of your kind.
<33 So real. I mean, it IS very rare! We don't often have creative *control* in the first place to ask for conditions like this anyway, so it really depends on our relationship within the work we're doing. And why having generative nooks even in our relationships, like you and your husband, is such a beautiful thing!
Ughhhh love this so much. Will be returning to this often! Thank you!!
SO GOOD! For some reason this makes me think of metaphors, how they're more than poetic comparison but are also (sometimes) mental models for how we behave in the world. Our planning sessions are more than coordination, they're seedlings for how our gatherings will exist in the world.
YOU ARE SO RIGHT! Metaphors are another beautiful (and dare I say artistic) prompt to elevate and make our thinking more delicate.
Love this topic so much!! Any tips for when you are the sole person who has to plan a retreat??
Oh man that isolation is so real. I find that literally anything that takes me away from staring at a computer works; writing outside, taking yourself on a field trip and going to a random gathering for inspiration, bringing heightened attention to any meetings you’re in about what *feels* good and not so good. It’s also about the simple stuff: putting on music, getting a nice cold fridge seltzer, grabbing some pens and paper you really like. Romance your ideas! The physical environment should feel pleasurable. Also bringing in one-off facilitators you admire for interviews or brief phone chats so you don’t feel so alone! Also makes me wonder about designing for more open-endedness in the retreat so you don’t feel like you have to solve for every little piece by yourself. Is it more joyful for you to create warmups for everybody and then send them into breakouts vs you having to plan the exact content of every piece? These are a small sampling of the 10,000 thoughts i’ve had when stuck in the same situation, ha! Curious what you’ve tried and are feeling stuck on.