Isolation Holidays Survival Guide
because we're all gonna need some help getting through the season this year
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It is #NoTwist that this year has been a doozy. Many of us have been in solitude or relative solitude for inordinate amounts of time. And that’s a hard thing. And the holidays? Well, they can be challenging even in the best of years—another hard thing.
Enter, a friend of mine, Samantha Cooper: Master of taming hard things.
A few weeks back, Sam put out a call to her community. The call was to crowdsource the different things, feelings, mojos, and joys that we all use to make the holidays special. Or, at the very least, survivable. She then compiled all the responses and created the Isolation Holidays Survival Guide - a fourteen-page guide to navigating the holidays in isolation. It includes food, activities, drinks, traditions, books, and beyond. It is AWESOME.
Sam was kind enough to share the survival guide back with us so that all could benefit from the hivemind. And I? I loved it.
So I asked if I could blast it out the ganglesphere. She said I could. So here we are. Blasting.
Let’s meet Sam.
“It's me! David's friend, Sam. I'm an Astoria-based queer playwright, poet, and theatre-maker who grew up in the rural part of Washington State. I'm a little bit country and a little bit rock n' roll and a whole lotta in love with my people.
David set up the Isolation Holidays Survival Guide so beautifully so I'll just add this:
When I am generally going through it, having a pre-populated list of things to do really helps me. (This is why I have a list of things called "Things That Make Me Feel Better" in my eyesight at all times.) It means that past-Sam is doing her best to set up future Sam to take care of herself the best she can. That bitch is trying for me and I appreciate her so much.
My smart, funny, and kind community also really showed up to help me take care of myself (and each other) this year. My community has HOBBIES and INTERESTS and I knew they would have great ideas for this weird time. Reading all the responses warmed my heart and I hope it warms your heart and lets you know you aren't alone as well. A happy isolation holidays to us all!
Find me on the internet if you want to connect! I'm on Instagram (@samjeancoop) and Twitter-ish (@samjeancoop). And, the audio drama version of my play INVINCIBLE ONES, produced by New Light Theatre Project, comes out starting 1/11/21.”
Check out the Isolation Holidays Survival Guide HERE
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