A Heartfelt Reflection on Our Christmas Meet Up

Dear Quieteers,

We’d like to pause and offer a heartfelt apology. At our Christmas Celebration Meet Up, we fell short of fully living up to our values, and for this, we’re truly sorry.

Our goal was to create a space that felt calm, safe, and inclusive, where every person could feel welcome and comfortable. We went into it with careful plans to ensure a warm and connecting experience for everyone. But while many of you enjoyed the evening and left with new connections, some vital elements didn’t come together as we had hoped, and we’ve heard from some of you about the impact this had. We understand that the experience wasn’t as calm and connecting for everyone, and we deeply regret that.

Limited setup time presented a challenge we had planned for, but unexpected events left us without the team presence we needed to create the full experience we envisioned. As a result, a welcoming orientation didn’t unfold as planned, and we weren’t able to bring the grounded presence that is so essential for us all.

Although our wonderful team members Rose, Elaine, and Julie brought their warmest welcome and support, we know that the experience wasn’t as smooth or guiding as intended. Some of you missed out on the connecting spaces we created, and Stacie and I felt stretched, without time to self-regulate and be as present as we’d hoped to be with each of you.

Quiet Connections has always been a place where we’re learning and growing alongside you. Together, we’re building spaces for connection, and part of that journey includes making, acknowledging, and learning from our mistakes. Sitting with the discomfort that comes with them allows us to discover new ways to bring quieteers together in a truly supportive way.

We’re deeply appreciative of everyone who has taken the time to share feedback with us already, and we hope more of you will share your experience, whether positive or less so, through the feedback survey we emailed you. Each of your voices is essential to helping us learn and improve for the future.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Every experience counts, and each one of you matters greatly to us. While some parts of the evening went really well, giving us insights to build on, we know that for those who didn’t feel fully included, that’s one too many.

Thank you to everyone who came along and contributed to the event – all our wonderful volunteers and supporters and our quieteers. Let’s have another go soon!

With gratitude and warmth,
Hayley & Team Quiet