Each night for almost a week, we sat together, singing around the campfire. We used our voices and instruments--guitar, ukulele, recorder, harmonica--to sing melodies and a rainbow of harmonies. Voices of young, old, and those in the middle, singing together, singing campfire songs that told stories of joy, and yearning, and loss and adventure.

It was night time in the redwood grove, our adopted home for the week. The stars were out. It was so dark that when we looked up, stars were everywhere. It was so dark that, without a flashlight, you might walk through the camp and trip over a log or rock.

I heard the crackling of the campfire and felt its warmth. I felt comforted and relaxed. We were together, around the campfire, and we were safe in that moment. For the week, we were safe.

The fact that we were able to be safe singing at the campfire made it that much more precious. Our family attended performing arts family camp in 2019 for the first time. In 2020, family camp was cancelled as the COVID-19 pandemic raged; it wasn’t safe to gather. For over a year, many of us sat in our homes, each singing our own individual melodies alone.

Even now, it wasn’t a simple thing to create the container of safety: each camp participant was required to submit proof of vaccination ahead of time, assuming they were eligible. Three days before camp, every attendee was required to take a COVID test and send the camp director their negative result.

And here we were – in the woods, under the stars. During the day, we took classes – yoga, writing, singing, drama, art, instruments of all types. We enjoyed our meals outside surrounded by trees – and for almost a week, preparing food was as simple as showing up (with mask on) in the dining hall buffet line. There was no internet access at camp, so we put our devices aside and lived much more in each moment.

I could say that this is my “happy place” but that doesn’t do it justice. This was my restorative space. The past eighteen months, since March 2020, have been filled with uncertainty. So many of us struggling with overwhelm, burnout or disconnection. Six months ago, we ‘celebrated’ the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine; now we are each seeking to find our footing as the Delta variant spreads among the high population of unvaccinated individuals, making it challenging for individuals and organizations to plan a clear path forward.

Spending a week singing and being inspired in the woods did not solve all problems. But I feel greater compassion and presence for the challenges that I see each of us facing. I find myself more focused, with a deeper connection to my purpose of designing and leading inclusive conversations and processes that move the world towards justice.

It’s hard now, on so many different levels. If you and your team and your organization are struggling with curveballs and uncertainty, I see you.

And we each need to find our restorative spaces so that we can bring energy and compassion for what life is bringing us. You don’t need to put aside a week of vacation to find your restorative space. Your restorative space can be a few hours at the ocean or on a trail in nature. Or singing, painting, gardening, cooking, or whatever your hobby might be. Something that shifts your brain and body away from screens and the news cycle to a more embodied presence in each moment.

I’m working on bringing a little piece of my restorative space back to my day-to-day life: I signed up for jazz singing class. I bought a new book to learn more guitar. I’m writing more and working on getting yoga into my schedule. I’ve reached out to friends for walks or catch-up conversations.

And when I feel overwhelmed, I close my eyes and go back to the campfire. I remember hearing the harmonies all around me and feeling the harmony of our songs resonating inside me. I remember feeling completely alive.

How are you finding restorative space and time?

Try this

• Take some time to list out activities that help you to feel centered.

• Find some time to get these restorative activities on your calendar.

• Check in with yourself to see how it's working and let us know!