During the pandemic, human connection was distant and hazardous. Closeness became life-threatening, gathering felt like it became illegal, and Zoom calls were the only link to other people. What was meant to be a “see you later” in two weeks became months of isolation, which turned into years of disconnection for some.
A report from the Surgeon General found that half of adults experience loneliness, and many Americans are still feeling the ramifications of quarantines, distancing protocols, and unlimited screen time some five years later. What’s worse is that loneliness is not just a feeling; it’s an epidemic that correlates to cognitive decline, hypertension, mental health disorders, diabetes, infectious diseases, and more.
I was one of these lonely people. So I decided to do something about it this year. I found an in-person hobby that has quickly become an important part of my life in the unlikeliest of places: Threads.
A trip to Denver changed my life
For this story to make sense, we first have to go back to June 26, 2022. If you live in Colorado and are a sports fan, you may recognize this date as the day the Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup against the Tampa Bay Lighting.
That day also happened to be Pride in Denver, so my partner and I decided to make the trek from Boulder to Denver to take in the sights and activities. We weren’t completely unaware of the “big game” happening, but we weren’t traveling for that purpose. We ended up at a bar with an interesting mixture of rainbow boas and Avalanche jerseys.
I will never forget becoming mesmerized by the high-intensity skating, the fans, and the energy I felt in downtown Denver that day. It was like returning to the “before times” while simultaneously stumbling upon something new that I couldn’t explain.
When Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen scored the tie-breaking goal, I was hooked. Hockey was about to become my new personality.
I attended my first Avalanche game at Ball Arena with my partner a few months later, which only made us fall more in love with the sport and the organization. Player jerseys were ordered, commemorative game pucks began magically showing up at my house thanks to FedEx, and shows like Letterkenny were on repeat.
I realized that it wasn’t just the aesthetics of being a hockey fan in a hockey state or the game of hockey itself that was addicting; it was the community that pulled me further in.
Knowing the inside jokes of the home broadcasting team, making trade predictions with other hockey enthusiasts on Facebook, and following players' careers across the NHL became a ritual that deepened my connection to the sport and other people. This new world was immersive, welcoming, and strangely wholesome for a sport with blades, clubs, and in-game brawls.
I quickly expanded my interest from just Avalanche hockey when the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) announced its inaugural season in 2023. Women’s hockey exploded, and that’s when I started thinking, “If Taylor Heise can do it, why can’t I?"
Have I played hockey before? No. Have I skated in hockey skates before? No. Did I want to try it anyway? Absolutely.
So I posted on Threads
As a neurodivergent woman who hadn’t made friends in years, I knew that trying a new sport with new people in new places would be a big step for me. So, like any decent millennial, I turned to the internet first. Perhaps someone would advise me on how to start playing a new sport at age 32.
I did not expect the response I received when I posted on Threads.
Through this single post, I was instantly connected with people who not only loved hockey like me, but played hockey and had found friends doing it. I was lucky to befriend Sarah Speights, a WACH (Women’s Association of Colorado Hockey) board member, who directed me to the Denver Women’s Hockey League (DWHL).
From there, I signed up for the DWHL’s free hockey 101 clinic, and I began my hockey player journey with skates Sarah gave me and gear that was loaned out to me by the DWHL.
I began skating lessons, attended the hockey clinic, and signed up for the league immediately.
I also attended the Denver PWHL Takeover Tour in January, and experienced over 14,000 women’s hockey fans (many of them also players) in one building. The community reaffirmed that I had to get on the ice.
A month later, I convinced my partner to sign up for a second, co-ed league. Now we’re either playing or practicing at ice rinks one to two times a week.
Don't give up on social media
People give social media a lot of flak, but in 2025 there’s still a glimmer of its original purpose: creating community.
If you’re struggling with finding a chosen family or community, like so many of us are, I suggest digging into your current interests. Is there a way you can become more involved in what already sparks joy for you? Can you research within online communities and find local gatherings? Are there reduced cost or free options to begin with?
I asked myself those questions and discovered a hobby I love, people who share that interest, and more community connection. It all started with a post on Threads and old, free gear. Stop worrying about looking good, give this a try for yourself, and see what happens.
