G is for Group Text #AtoZChallenge

…of which I am in more than a few.

I do not even know how many at this point. Some are for planning purposes; some are me and my homies. I’m in a group where we send each other meal ideas each day, another that includes updates of my friend’s partner’s comics. Another led to the birth of a hashtag that I would share with you but it is the insidest of inside jokes and literally only makes sense within the context of the group text thread.

Also, let’s be honest: food features in almost all of them. What we’re cooking or baking or thinking about cooking or baking. Often there are pictures. It’s nice.

Of course, the best thing about the group text is that it led to a (virtual) weekend hang with my two longest running friends. And we did some fun stuff like a social distancing spirit week. I posted my pictures on Facebook as well, but it really started as a thing my friends and I did together to help keep our spirits up and to continue to check in with each other.

That spirit week also led to me finally figuring out some of the features of Instagram, so it was win-win.

THE POINT IS that I am in a bunch of group texts and while sometimes it can feel a little overwhelming, it’s nice to have both the connection and the reminder that though we’re apart (way apart sometimes–my longest running friends are on the opposite coast), this is really something we’re experiencing together.

And just knowing that makes me feel a little less lonely.

For this year’s A to Z Challenge, I have decided that I’m going to focus on my survival/coping strategies while practicing social distancing. What are the things that make it bearable? What helps alleviate my stress and fear–or at least what distracts me from both? Tune in tomorrow to see what I have chosen for H!