I Invited Grown-ups to a Kid's Tree House to Talk About Vulnerability...
Last week, I was blessed with the opportunity to chat with 8 inspiring speakers at Baumhaus - a children's tree house. Why? Reliving my childhood provided clarity for me the last few years. I wanted to create an immersive experience for grown-ups to reconnect with their dormant inner child. We are a product of life lessons and our belief system including the way we think, feel and do things are shaped by our younger self. We all heard the saying children are a sponge and they absorb.
What is in your sponge?
When did you form those views?
What's your relationship with your world's view?
How is this view serving you?
"The same level of thinking that created the issue will not solve it. We can all find a fresh perspective by simply lowering ourselves to our inner child's height and ask ourselves one simple question: what am I not seeing?"
In the hours leading up to the event, a wave of negative self-talk washed over me. Would people turn up? I started to question myself. At 5.45pm, we had more speakers than guests. Why did I do this?
And this inner voice reminded me, "you are doing this for your children and their friends. The world needs more positivity and intentional vulnerability can help people heal and save lives. It wasn't available to you when you needed it but you can make it available for others."
As the guests started to arrive, my worry dissipated.
From single parenting, to divorce, grief, becoming jobless, the speakers opened up courageously and captivated the audience. It was a beautiful moment to watch the joy, laughter and even uncomfortable moments. Witnessing smiles on people's faces, observing them taking notes in their notebooks, and knowing that I contributed something meaningful to their lives brought me immense happiness. Thank you Mahesh Pamnani for the laughter yoga, Crisel Consunji, M.A., M.Ed. for leading us through the musical play with a bit of dancing, and Andrew Cox for the fun body movements. Everything was designed intentionally to take grown-ups on a journey back to their childhood.
People don't remember what others said and did, but they will always remember how someone made them feel.
This event was a testament to the power of intentional vulnerability, responsibility, and authenticity in fostering meaningful connections and personal growth.
For me, vulnerability is not just a casual act but a deliberate choice. It requires us to approach it with good intentions, using it as a means to share our struggles, seek support, and inspire those who may be in need. It is not a tool for manipulation or playing the victim's seat, but rather a powerful way to connect on a deeper level and foster empathy within our community.
Our list of inspiring speakers of the evening:
Crisel Consunji, Andrew Cox, Mahesh Pamnani, Mac Ling, Jen McCombie, Veronica Llorca-Smith, Karen Seymour and Sudesh Thevasenabathy
Here are 4 lessons learned during the planning and execution of this event:
Don't let negative self-talk discourage you: There were moments when I questioned why I put myself under such pressure. However, I always returned to a higher purpose – for the benefit of my children and their friends. The world needs more positivity and presence, and that became my driving force.
Embrace risk and serendipity: By taking risks and stepping outside my comfort zone, I discovered the beauty of serendipity. From hosting the event in a playground to working with eight speakers who had never collaborated before, each element added an element of transformation that would have been missed in a traditional consultancy setting
Gratitude for unwavering support: Convincing the speakers to support this event was surprisingly effortless. I am immensely grateful for their belief in our cause. It is a valuable reminder that seeking support from those who genuinely believe in you is far more fruitful than trying to convince naysayers. True allies are those who stand by you even when you have nothing to offer
Don't aim for perfection, aim for progress: Having an imperfect event is much better than having no event. Be open and completely transparent with your audience, speakers; those who understand you, your limitation will always forgive you. Your intention matters.
I am incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support we received. The positive feedback from attendees, improvement suggestions, with many inquiring about the next event, was truly heartwarming. It serves as a reminder of the importance of creating spaces for vulnerable conversations and the impact they can have on individuals and their communities.
I extend my deepest gratitude to all (speakers, sponsors, volunteers and guests) who supported and attended the event. We invite you to browse through our photo gallery:
Together, Aaron