![\"balloon](\"https:\/\/www.konstantinfo.com\/konstant-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/balloon-and-paper-cup-relay-race.png\")
<\/p>\nIt happened for the first time this year. And it\u2026was\u2026Amazing!<\/p>\n
Dawdling at a fully in-person gathering.<\/p>\n
Having facilitated a hybrid work culture, flexible working over the past two years, we\u2019ve learned a lot about how to connect with and engage people virtually.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re grateful that most of us have been able to work flexibly off the campus, without travelling, and better off on campus without missing out on all the magic that happens when we gather in person.<\/p>\n
Feeling and feeding off of each other\u2019s energy.<\/p>\n
Looking directly into people\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n
Hearing their collective laughter.<\/p>\n
Holding space for their tears.<\/p>\n
Seeing their smiles.<\/p>\n
All of that happened last weekend.<\/p>\n
It reminded us of why we fell in love with what we do.<\/p>\n
All Konstant teams assembled in the Cafeteria for collective team-building activities, navigating the next normal.<\/p>\n
Within the first 10 minutes, people shared smiles and tears as they connected through our opening activity.<\/p>\n
The room was buzzing with the energy of conversations and connection.<\/p>\n
It made us all feel alive.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve missed that for a while.<\/p>\n
We reflected on the importance of letting be and letting go so that we can free ourselves up to let in what matters most.<\/p>\n
We reminded ourselves that we may not control what happens to us or around us, but we can control how we respond to it.<\/p>\n
We always control our response.<\/p>\n
We connected to our body, our breath, our stories, our purpose and each other.<\/p>\n
Now, more than ever, we know how essential it is to lean on each other and ask for help.<\/p>\n
It was such a joyful day.<\/p>\n
It filled us up.<\/p>\n
We used to take experience like this for granted and even grumble about travelling.<\/p>\n
But sometimes when something we take for granted goes away, we realize just how special it is.<\/p>\n
And we appreciate it more.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s how we\u2019re feeling right now.<\/p>\n
Immensely grateful!<\/p>\n
Every season of struggle has an expiration date.<\/p>\n
And this one will, too!<\/p>\n
We have experienced a lot of cumulative trauma and we got to unpack it to stay mentally fit for duty.<\/p>\n
Sometimes it just requires less \u2018professional\u2019 work and more of just being \u2018casual\u2019.<\/p>\n
We binged into a coif of team-building fun activities to set the tone for the weekend and upcoming week.<\/p>\n
Individual players blew up balloons and use their escaping air to move a cup over a set course.<\/p>\n
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Two payers from every team were given a set of paper cups and balloons. One of the payers had to blow up a balloon to carry cups from one table to another and create a 6-cup pyramid without using their hands. If any cups fall, those cups must be picked up and placed back at the starting point.<\/p>\n
![\"balloon](\"https:\/\/www.konstantinfo.com\/konstant-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/balloon-cup-stackingballoon-pyramid.png\")
<\/p>\n
Twenty members, ten from each team formed two parallel queues, holding hands. They had to pass a hula hoop completely around the circle as quickly as possible without breaking handholds.<\/p>\n
![\"hula-hoop-pass\"](\"https:\/\/www.konstantinfo.com\/konstant-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/hula-hoop-pass-1.png\")
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We tapped into the collective wisdom of the room and brainstormed how we might continue to foster connection and community in these uncertain times.<\/p>\n
And, as the activity session came to a close, we had a lucky draw as a direct compliment to the great evening.<\/p>\n