“For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.”
TS Eliot, The Four Quartets
A year is a long time in business.
One of the things I’ve learnt from working with Space to Breathe (and believe me there’s been many lessons) is that time has an impact on things. An idea that’s not right at one time, may be perfect at another. Something that is a problem after a month can become an opportunity a month later. Ideas which work one year might not work then next. Time and timing are significant.
As I look back at 2019 and look forward to 2020 these words from TS Elliot came back to me. We’ve had a wonderful year to celebrate as Space to Breathe grew up from a start-up to an established small business. The dynamic of a business moving from just you to having employees and seeing work grow in new areas is a brilliant thing that I’ll always savour.
Last week we launched our Twenty for 2020 campaign, raising funds for 20 free-at-point-of-delivery services we’d like to run in this new year. This is a big deal for us and a long way from where we were at the start of 2019.
For example, in January 2019 we ran our first Soulful Wellbeing Day for School Staff. Six teachers from the area spent a Saturday with Ben, our Education Lead, looking at wellbeing practice for busy teachers. Yesterday we were back again at Whirlow with 25 teachers from a local school for our 15th Wellbeing Day which has helped teachers from over 15 local schools.
Similarly, at the beginning of the year we were planning our first piece of work supporting NHS staff and their wellbeing. Since then we’ve worked in a number of health settings and are thrilled to have wellbeing for NHS staff as one of the key pillars of our work.
As we begin 2020 we hope for more of the same.
But as this new year dawns we’re also aware that there are new ideas, new platforms and new language to explore. 2019 was a year where Mental Health and Wellbeing came to the fore in media and news coverage. One such example was this weekend’s football where I was thrilled to see Sheffield United’s kickoff (as well as all FA Cup 3rd Rd ties) delayed by one minute to give fans a minute to consider their mental health. A lot has changed in one year!
As 2020 dawns, part of our new language may well be this …
How do we shift the conversation to talk more about flourishing in our health as well as talking about preventing those things that hold us back (like stress or depression)? Mental Health is something we all have and I’m conscious that we often talk about its challenges and traumas when we can also talk about thriving and growing.
I’d like to see more campaigns that empower people.
I’d love to see new resources that enable you to flourish in your own character.
I’d hope to celebrate people growing in good wellbeing.
In 2020 my hope is that Space to Breathe will help you to flourish and to become more and more the person that you are. How can we help you to be all you can be today? Get in touch and let us help.