Why Embracing My “Basic” Side Makes Me Happy (And You Should Too!)
The other day, I found myself in line at Starbucks, shamelessly ordering a Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew (with extra pumpkin spice topping, obviously). As I smiled at the barista, a horrifying thought struck me: I’m basic.
For years, I’d tried to outrun this label. I scoffed at pumpkin spice lattes in August. I pretended to not know all the words to “Shake It Off.” I even attempted to knit my own chunky blanket (it ended up looking like a deformed oven mitt). But there, in that Starbucks line, I had a sudden epiphany: who cares?!
From Non-Basic to Blissfully Basic: My Journey
My journey to basic-hood wasn’t easy. It involved several stages of denial and a brief obsession with kombucha. But eventually, I realized that fighting my “basic” tendencies was exhausting and, frankly, pointless. Here’s why:
- “Basic” things are popular for a reason. Newsflash: pumpkin spice lattes are delicious. Taylor Swift writes catchy songs. And those cozy sweaters everyone makes fun of? They’re actually really comfortable! There’s a reason these things are so popular – because they’re enjoyable!
- Life’s too short to pretend to be someone you’re not. Why waste time pretending to love obscure indie bands when you’d rather belt out Beyoncé in the car? Embracing your “basicness” is about being true to yourself, even if that means rocking out to some seriously mainstream tunes.
- “Basic” is often just a code word for “feminine.” Let’s be real, a lot of the things labeled “basic” are things that women are often stereotyped as liking. Enjoying a glass of rosé or taking a million selfies doesn’t make you unoriginal, it just makes you, well, a woman with interests!
The Simple Joys of a Basic Life
Now, I’m not saying you need to suddenly develop an obsession with avocado toast and start planning a trip to the Maldives (although, those both sound pretty great). Embracing your “basic” side is about giving yourself permission to enjoy the things you enjoy, without judgment.
For me, this has meant fully leaning into my love of all things fall-related. My apartment is now basically a shrine to pumpkins, my Spotify playlists are overflowing with cozy acoustic covers, and I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve already watched “Hocus Pocus” twice this month.
Ready to Unleash Your Inner Basic?
Trust me, the pumpkin spice lattes taste even sweeter when you’re not busy worrying about what everyone else thinks.