Sitting down now, all I can say is I’m genuinely happy about how this event turned out. Compared to the first event, this one felt so much better, and I could feel that the seniors enjoyed it much more as well. It was easy to see how much of a difference it made.
One of the biggest takeaways was how much difference interaction makes. The moment people had a reason to stand up, walk over, and do something with their hands, the entire mood of the room shifted. There was constant conversation, questions being asked, people commenting on the items, and seniors talking to each other while waiting their turn. That level of movement and chatter was exactly what I had been hoping for from the beginning, and seeing it happen so naturally was incredibly rewarding.
I was also happy with how smoothly everything ran. The ticket system worked exactly the way I hoped it would.
At the same time, this event raised new expectations. When seniors started asking when the next event would be, it was exciting, but it also gives me pressure to create an even better event. Whatever comes next cannot just be a repeat of this. I believe they will be expecting something different, and not different as in more items for the kit. That is not a bad thing, but it does mean I will need to think carefully about what the next step should look like.
I do not want future events to feel predictable or stale. This one worked because it was new, interactive, and social, and I want to keep building on those elements without relying on the same format every time. Seeing seniors smiling and talking with each other was the clearest sign that I was moving in the right direction. I can say I’m proud of how this turned out!