Watch Party for the Soul

It's taken a while, but I've come to embrace my true self: while I am a loner AND an introvert, I do in fact want AND enjoy community. Groups are often plentiful, but community is not easily found or created. I've been feeling called to make space for one to form. I envision it being a Discord Server with so much more. Maybe this is what is in store but for now, I am just enjoying the ride.

As I learn to love myself more, I'm trying to become more comfortable not masking. Being myself frees up the energy I'm using to be who they want me to be. With that freedom comes renewed (albeit limited) energy, and with that, comes the ability to better tackle the things I want to do- especially the things I find scary.

The Call to the Cousins

So when robert-the-contemplative a Threads user whose content I've enjoyed for a while, but whom I have not met personally, asked for a Star Trek Voyager re-watch, I jumped off the cliff to do something I've been wanting to do: connect.

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It's impossible to meet people and make connections if I don't speak up. So I did:

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This simple exchange led to what I hope will become the "My Mercurial Nature Watch Party Series." aka "Mercurial Watch Parties." Right now, it's been three days of chilling with cool folks!

Day 1: Impromptu Watch Party

We took the first step on December 9. Threads user, blerdgirlmagick, and I watched two or three episodes of Star Trek Voyager, using text chat, and enjoying ourselves. I had a blast and it helped take my mind off my pain and anxiety and Dani shared the following on Threads.

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I was on the fence about doing another party, but then I saw Robert's response:

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Day 2: Black Thriends Watch Party

Tuesday, for myself and many other Black readers, writers, and lover of words, was a day of grief. Prolific activist, poet, and professor, Nikki Giovanni, died December 8, 2024. She was a Black woman, and her life was spent fighting for her people in many ways. The loss is heavy. Painful, even. In a year that has been nothing short of a reminder that existing is do damn hard, losing Nikki Giovanni feels like maybe one loss too many. I know many feel the same.

A watch party was a great way to soothe my mind. This time, our seven people attended and all attendee were and are Black. The conversation was lovely. We shared some laughs, some of us had a drink, some had an edible/weed. None of that was required. We just wanted fun. To share something we loved in a safe space with other.

And we did.

What was supposed to be an rewatch of an episode turned into a healing social of community. We began with a watch of one of the most memorable scenes from of A Different World, as it center's "Ego Trippin'", a poem written by Nikki Giovanni.

Then we watched Nikki Giovanni's TedTalk (watch below).

And slowly, something began to build. Check out these posts on Threads (linked and embedded below)

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Day 3: Mixed Bag and Doctor Who Fifteen

On Wednesday, December 11th, Dani asked if I had the spoons for another watch. I did. We had discussed watching Doctor Who so this time, Doctor Who is the show of choice. Despite the flakiness of the Meta platforms today, 4 people joined to watch Ncuti Gatwa make the Doctor his own. Three episodes later, I hopped in a video chat on Discord with an attendee and had a blast getting to know each other.

It's rewarding to know everyone had a good time. My happy place is when I connecting with others in a natural way and without pretense.

Other's feel this way too!

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I don't know what the next four years will bring but I do know is connection and community is how we will survive. Be it online or IRL, find your people and get together. It's hard out there for so many of us. A little love goes a long way.