Leading a Bath Bomb Workshop - an invitation to a new path

I sometimes feel I live in a set track and I move through the world on the same well-worn path, even in urban areas where there are many people living, moving, working in the space, most of the people I am around are strangers. It is easy to keep to myself. The more time I spend online, the more I am shuffled slowly and persistently into specific affinity groups where I have shared values and experiences. What does it take to try something new? How can I meet someone new?

As a kid, I got to the try new things thanks to the structure of extracurricular activities and school programming. Through to university, the learning and exploring mindset is encouraged and systems are put in place to support this. I was placed in groups for periods of time and experienced new things. But this changes with adulthood. How and when do I try new things? How do I meet new people? This can be challenging, especially for people with developmental disabilities. But really, social isolation is a challenge for people with and without disabilities.

Building Simon’s Soapbox together has been an opportunity for Simon and I to test and push our regular boundaries and routines. Our business brings us into new spaces to build relationships with customers and other businesses and organizations.

Several years ago we got to know some coaches from Curiko. Curiko is a platform that seeks to connect people with and without disabilities to new experiences. They foster spaces of equal belonging for people with and without disabilities. On the Curiko platform, individuals can sign up for different experiences. This could be a book club, learning how to knit or practicing small talk. The theory is that we can all try something new, and we can meet each other with respect and curiosity.

Simon’s Soapbox’s goal is to demonstrate the value of people with and without developmental disabilities working together – our mission and Curiko’s mission are aligned in a beautiful way. This is why we are excited to be Curiko hosts for bath bomb workshops. We were nervous for our first bath bomb workshop. Leading and teaching is a skill and doing it together was new. But I’m glad that we worked together

In May we hosted a bath bomb workshop, and we were thrilled to show participants how to make bath bombs. We all rolled up our sleeves, tested some bath bombs (made a fizz volcano) and made some ourselves. The room was a buzz with conversations, questions, “ah! Look at this” when someone unmolded a round bath bomb successfully.

We want to foster opportunities for people to try a new thing and meet someone new – even if it is just for a couple hours. These bumps and sparks can change us, they are meant to be easy. If you are ready to try something new, to get out of your regular path and routine – I encourage you to sign up for a Curiko experience!