British comedian Sarah Millican is urging those feeling alone on Christmas to band together on Twitter using the hashtag #JoinIn.
“If you’re alone or feeling lonely, follow the hashtag #joinin and start chatting with others there,” she wrote in a tweet shared Christmas morning:
https://twitter.com/SarahMillican75/status/1077492465588944897
Last December, she told The Howard Hour show by British presenter Russell Howard that it was her seventh year of doing this.
“[It’s] to bring together people who are on their own [on Christmas] and don’t want to be,” she told the show. “There are so many different reasons why people might be on their own and we just have a conversation on Twitter.”
She explained that when gets up on Christmas, she “set[s] the rules” and then retweets everybody using the hashtag, until everyone is having a conversation together.
It’s already helped some people in the past:
I’ve spent some time by myself over Christmas and new year before and the join in community got me through it. If you’re alone for a length of time tomorrow please use the hash tag below and connect with thousands of amazing people.
— Mike Armiger (@MikeArmiger) December 24, 2018
It’s just THE BEST.
💜 To all X#joinin
https://twitter.com/MissLauraMG/status/1077599145836326913
Millican said on Howard’s show that she sometimes gets messages as early as September from people asking her if she will be doing #JoinIn over Christmas for the year.
This year, many are sharing deeply personal—sometimes funny, sometimes painful, sometimes resilient—stories:
https://twitter.com/dook_durham/status/1077574405948141568
Today, I made the choice to spend Christmas alone instead of with my abusive parents. I haven’t gone to any family parties. I regret nothing. #joinin
— The Sharktonaut (@TheSharktonaut) December 25, 2018
No one around to judge me, so Bailey’s in the morning coffee and apple crumble for breakfast it is! #joinin
— Fergus Guy (@KnightsToby) December 25, 2018
Merry Christmas all from me and Jack the cat. For anyone feeling alone this Christmas… Remember – you matter. Anymore festive pets photos? #joinin pic.twitter.com/UikwhLsNQ8
— Laura Jane (@LBonsor) December 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/willmarty/status/1077518266870976512
Some are opening up their (Twitter) doors to others:
https://twitter.com/alexgblack/status/1077472278085074944
https://twitter.com/taralabecki/status/1077541580586795008
Some are sharing their realizations of being alone during the holidays:
Your Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful. Sometimes the mess teaches us more. I see the #joinin tag and I remember that’s exactly what Christmas is about: God decided to join in with us and our messy world.
— Anastasia K. Bond (@AnastasiaKBond) December 25, 2018
@SarahMillican75 #joinin if you’re able to get out, I’ve always found a walk in nature to nurture the soul uplifts me. It seems more special when it’s so much quieter on Christmas Day. Nature becomes a gift just for you. pic.twitter.com/maTwNgoVoG
— Alison Smith (@alisonrbcm) December 25, 2018
The holidays can be difficult for people for a number of reasons. But the threads inspired by #joinin bring out a unique unity through the honesty and vulnerability that people share. Millican admitted to Howard she’s addicted to the movement now. As she said, “I clearly can’t not even do it now, it’s so lovely.”
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