THE NEED FOR BELONGING DURING THE HOLIDAYS

The winter holidays arrive with images of togetherness, yet for many who have served in the military, law enforcement, fire/rescue, or healthcare, the season can feel paradoxically lonely. Sebastian Junger (2016) argues in Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging that modern society has largely lost the tight-knit tribal bonds that once sustained humans through hardship. After deployment or years on the front lines of emergencies, returning to civilian life can feel like leaving the only tribe that ever truly “got it.”

Junger writes, “The psychological cost of alienation from community is steep. Humans don’t mind hardship; in fact, they thrive on it; what they mind is not feeling necessary” (p. 93). The holidays amplify that sense of not being necessary when old battle buddies or shift partners are scattered across the country and civilian gatherings rarely leave space for the stories that matter most.

HOW SHARED STORYTELLING REBUILDS THE TRIBE

Tabletop role-playing games create an instant, intentional tribe. Players gather with a shared purpose: to imagine, to laugh, to face fictional dragons together, and sometimes to process real emotions in a safe container. Around a Roll2Heal table, a former infantry Marine might play a gentle cleric, a paramedic might finally be the one who gets rescued instead of doing the rescuing, and a critical-care nurse might discover the joy of rolling a natural 20 when everything else feels out of control.

The act of co-creating a story satisfies the same evolutionary need Junger identifies: being needed by the group. Every player’s contribution matters. When the party wizard casts a crucial spell or the rogue picks the lock that saves the village, the table erupts in genuine celebration; something many members say they rarely experience elsewhere during the holidays.

WHY THE HOLIDAYS MAKE THE PERFECT TIME FOR A ONE-SHOT

Holiday schedules can be unpredictable, making long campaigns difficult. That is why so many Roll2Heal members host or join festive one-shot adventures in December:

• “Winter’s Hollow” (a cozy village plagued by mysterious blizzards)

• “The Night Before Midwinter” (a heist to save the holiday feast)

• “Operation: Silent Night” (a lighthearted modern-military rescue of a stranded supply convoy carrying presents)

These short, self-contained stories let everyone drop in, play for three or four hours, and leave with new inside jokes and strengthened bonds; no ongoing commitment required. The Deck of Player Safety, the only safety tool used at Roll2Heal tables, ensures everyone can signal comfort levels without breaking immersion or putting peers in the awkward role of therapist.

THE GIFT THAT COSTS NOTHING BUT TIME

Unlike expensive gifts that gather dust, the gift of a shared TTRPG session leaves memories and relationships. Veterans who once spent holidays alone now log into the Roll2Heal Discord on holidays to get together. First responders working overnight shifts know they can jump into a voice channel between calls and be welcomed like family. Healthcare workers coming off brutal holiday surges find laughter waiting for them

CONCLUSION

This holiday season, the greatest gift many in the Roll2Heal community will give or receive is a few hours around a table where their stories matter, where their dice rolls are cheered, and where they are undeniably part of a tribe again.

If you are a Veteran, First Responder, or Healthcare Professional looking for that same sense of belonging, the table is already set. Join the Roll2Heal Discord at https://discord.gg/q7HAsxb4Rt and let the next chapter of your story begin with friends who understand.

REFERENCES

Junger, S. (2016). Tribe: On homecoming and belonging. 

Roll2Heal. (n.d.). Blog archives. https://roll2heal.org/blog