As we close out the year, it’s a perfect time to “harvest” the year and reflect on what makes it defining. We’ll try to refrain from the platitudes of “What a year!” and “It was a banner!.” Like every year since our existence there’s been the good, and the bad and the “somewhere in between.” What we like to focus on is the growth that has been experienced, the learning that has flourished and our relentless passion to keep going.
We talked about harvesting explicitly during podcast season 7 with social impact and social worker Bobbie Breckenridge when we agreed recalling our stories can be therapeutic and healing. Bringing them to the surface through journalling, intergenerational conversations, even physical movement are a handful of ways to let them out.
At Root & Seed, we write to reflect. This year we’ve learned:
- When we call to gather, you respond. We held the most wonderful Women’s Month event in March 2024 called “Ampersand”, where women of multiple generations gathered with the intention to get to know each other and to honour the women in their lives who define them. We mapped geographic lineage, used the R&S women’s day cards to break the ice and left with pride and honour in the women in our lives, past and present.
- Colleagues yearn to know each other more intimately. We launched connection workshops to accompany our workplace conversation cards, tested them and then rolled them out. The personal stories of employees are now etched into the fabric and texture of teams and workplaces, leading to better collaboration and empathy. To the leaders in the organizations that took a chance with us, their impact in making the choice to invite us (and our tools) will never dissipate.
- Take multiple shots, you might not know what sticks. We applied and were shortlisted for SXSW 2025 but never got off the waitlist. It seems the creative world might not be ready for an intergenerational meet up. R&S co-founder Anika Chabra will be attending in March as a mentor in the category of “Culture” which spotlights the fusion of creativity, humanity, arts and offers a perspective on how communities uniquely share their stories. Not what we first envisioned, but that works!
- Awarded work is tough work. Having conversations about your stories, often with family, is not for the faint of heart. We share the news of winning silver in the category of Health, Innovative Digital experiences from social impact award The Anthem awards with every single one of you who courageously took a deck of our conversation cards to their family dinner, or opened their account on our digital capture tool with a loved one who might be failing in health or heading into their series of “lasts.” We are so immensely proud of you (and us!).
- There are things beyond our control. The Canada Post strike sucked, no rosy picture here. Outside of killing our ability to offer discounts, we were tentative about promoting our cards fearing they might not get to homes in time for holiday gatherings. We know we are not alone in this struggle and like many businesses ended up not having the Q4 we anticipated.
- You see possibilities where we don’t. This is probably the most gratifying part of the feedback we get. You bring Root & Seed to occasions and moments we had never dreamed of. This year our cards have found their way to grief groups, rehabilitation facilities, memorials, spa waiting rooms - everywhere two or more people with a little bit of time and desire to connect find themselves.
- Even misfits can find their place, eventually. When we launched in 2021 we didn’t quite “fit in” squarely into a category. When we pitched, we did so in many verticals, only to hear we didn’t quite check all the boxes of what they were looking for. We knew we were unique. And then we discovered the industry of Age Technology. In 2023 we pitched to win the AgeWell and SE Health National Impact Challenge. As a result, this year we’ve collaborated with so many folks, homes, partners who believe in intergenerational connection and storytelling. In fact, the icing on the cake is being included in AgeWell’s 2024 Annual Report. If that’s not “acceptance” by an industry, we don’t know what is!
With a little intention and reflection, harvesting and then identifying learning shows us there is power in holding onto the memories that serve you well. And letting go when they no longer do.
To everyone who has liked a post, voted for us on multiple devices, shared our story more intimately, brought out their cards at intergenerational gatherings or hired us to add value to their teams, we are deeply grateful to have your support.
Here’s to recalling more memories and making more memories in 2025.
Happy restful holidays.
And remember, call a family elder, and don’t ask them about the weather!
