My friends, 2020 is almost over!!!!
We all know that global crises don’t follow the Gregorian calendar. Things are such a mess that nobody’s expecting the change of the calendar year to usher in total bliss and harmony (or even pre-Covid “normalcy”). Plus, society is grappling with problems like systemic racism and economic inequality on what feels like a new level, and that work needs to continue and deepen. A return to normal isn’t even desirable. Really, there’s no going back.
And yet, I know I’m not alone in my excitement for the holiday season and a change of the calendar year. 2020 has been a lot.
But before we dash eagerly into 2021, I’d like to take a moment to look back at some of the ways our community came together and took care of each other in 2020. Despite how difficult this year was, I can say without hesitation that it has been our most beautiful year in the Puttyverse community. As this dumpster fire of a year took on full inferno status, I saw our community blossom into the kind of space I always knew it could be. People really leaned on and supported one another, and I think many of us in the Puttyverse feel a lot more connected than we did even before the pandemic.
And on that note, I guess I’d better start with an announcement…
Our community has a new name!
As of last week, our online community for multipotentialites is no longer called The Puttytribe. We are now officially The Puttyverse!
I made the announcement inside the community several months ago, and since then the Puttyverse team and I have been working hard behind the scenes to make the name change live across the site.
Why have we changed the name? Well, we’ve decided to no longer use “tribe” in our name out of respect for Indigenous people and traditions. Our online community is not a tribe, although Puttytribe is how we referred to ourselves for the first eight years. Use of the word tribe, throughout history and into the present day, has (both purposefully and accidentally) hurt Indigenous people. And now that we know better, we’re trying to do better.
If you’d like to know more about the history and contemporary thoughts about the word tribe, here’s a helpful article, and here’s another.
I think of our community as a really kind, thoughtful and inclusive space and I want our name to reflect that. More importantly, I want to make sure that we’re living our values by making all people feel welcome.
I’m also really dang excited about our new name! The Puttyverse is way more representative of the space. It’s expansive, nerdy and FUN.
I mean, we’re the Puttyverse: a constellation of multipotentialites!
That’s exactly what we are. 😀
Puttyverse Highlights from 2020
When the pandemic shut down much of the world in March, our community immediately began talking about what we could do to help support one another. Here are five wonderful ways in which we came together in 2020.
1. Biweekly Focus Parties
As spring wore on Covid times became a thing people said, it was less and less possible to get anything done. Did you feel that, too? Many of us were feeling distracted, scared and anxious. Many were also new to working at home, and didn’t have structures in place to support good work habits.
I started hosting weekly co-working sessions called Focus Parties. We would get together on Zoom for two hours, and do four, 25-minute timed Pomodoros. Focus Parties became so popular that a regular attendee volunteered to run a second one every week, and soon we were running Focus Parties every Tuesday and Thursday in the Verse.
Focus Parties are still going strong. There’s a group of 15-20 regulars who show up every Tuesday and Thursday, and some casual puttypeep who join from time to time.
It’s great! Seeing other folks working away on their projects is very motivating. You get a lot done, but Focus Parties have also been an amazing way to feel connected and to regularly see some friendly faces. They’ve made a huge difference in my life–and I know I’m not alone.
2. Social events, just for fun
Normally, we spend a lot of time in the Puttyverse talking about our work and projects. There are brainstorms, accountability huddles and all kinds of other opportunities to get help integrating many passions into your life in a sustainable way.
Then, in the spring, life got really hard. A lot of us weren’t quite as up for throwing ourselves headlong into productivity. So, we began running social events with the express purpose of being together and have fun in a safe, supportive environment. Every month or two, we have a big social event. Here’s what we’ve done so far this year:
- Open mic night: we shared our music, poetry, comedy and flag spinning talents.
- Board game night: party games in teams, complete with mind reading and a lot of laughter.
- Trivia/quiz night: a hilarious host, categories like “name this famous multipotentialite” and five teams competing for random knowledge glory!
- Introvert-friendly karaoke party: we took turns singing along to our favourite tunes, in several languages.
- Storytelling/pajama party: how can you go wrong with hilarious and moving personal stories, snacks, and our coziest PJs?
Our final social event of the year will this Saturday, December 12. It’s an Open Mic + Holiday Party, and it will be hosted by yours truly! If you’d like to attend (and maybe even perform!), just join the community before the doors close on December 9.
Some highlights from our last Open Mic in April 2020:
Aw, I’m so excited for Saturday!
3. Two 24-hour Puttythons
For those of you who don’t know, a Puttython is 24 hours of permission to do whatever the hell you want! You know all those half-finished projects you have lying around? That mental list of would-love-to-dos? All those books you wish you had the time to read? At a Puttython, you get to to dust them off! You dive into your projects and do all the things you want to do rather than the things you feel like you have to do. Writing, gardening, learning languages, composing a song…whatever you’re itching to do!
The Puttython starts with a kick-off huddle where folks share their plans for the 24 hours. Then, there are Check-In Huddles throughout the day, a 24/7 Co-Working Lounge where people can pop in and out, and a Show & Tell event at the end.
A Puttython is an amazing marathon event, and the two we held this year were our biggest ever! Here’s what people had to share at the October Puttython Show & Tell:
Talk about a resounding celebration of multipotentiality!
4. Recurring, member-led events on SO MANY TOPICS
This year, more than ever, the calendar was packed full of member-led huddles led by members, exploring topics as diverse as writing, parenting, managing anxiety and building a better world! The Puttyverse team runs events every week, but the astounding a magical variety in our events come from puttypeep being empowered to start their own things. I think member-led events are one of the best things about the Puttyverse.
Thank you, puttypeep
If you came to an event this year, or even just interacted quietly in the forum or in groups, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being there for your fellow multipods. It’s made a world of difference.
And if you aren’t a member of the Puttyverse, but feel like you would benefit from being part of a wonderful community of multipotentialites, please come check us out:
We’re welcoming new members to the Verse today, December 8, for the next 48 hours. This is your last chance to join before the end of the year.
Multipotentialites, I hope you have a very magical holiday season! Lots of love to you and your loved ones.
Your pal and fellow multipotentialite,
Emilie
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