A few days ago on the first day of fall, I went to Starbucks to order myself a grande pumpkin spice latte. And yes, I was very excited. It was my very own first-day-of-fall treat, and I walked into the library Starbucks with my head held high. Sporting an oversized T-shirt and leggings, I told the barista my order. Writing my name on the cup, I could see her giving me a smirk.
It wasn’t hard to figure out what she was thinking: “This girl is pretty damn basic.”
You know what? She’s right.
And I have absolutely no shame, whatsoever. I love ordering Starbucks, listening to Top 40 hits, and wearing leggings as pants (Yes, leggings are pants. You will fail at convincing me otherwise). My favorite season is fall, and online shopping is my sh*t. I wear Nike shorts even though I never work out, and I wear my The North Face jacket when it’s not even that cold outside. "Mean Girls" is my favorite movie of all time, but I think "Bridesmaids" comes in at a very close second. I tweet my thoughts daily (not to brag, but I think I’m hilarious) and paint my nails to match my outfits (sometimes).
I’m basic, and I’m proud of it. I shouldn’t be ashamed that I enjoy a good PSL every once in a while. I shouldn’t have to act embarrassed when I casually mention that I have 11 different Pinterest boards, because DIY projects are the future. I shouldn’t have to be looked at differently for Instagramming pictures of my food, because the food I order at restaurants is pretty damn delicious.
Trust me, I love joking around about being basic just as much as the next person. And yes, I definitely have my “basic” tendencies, but I’m not ashamed of it because I have a right to enjoy the things I like. I like crying while watching "The Notebook" and pinning new ideas on my Pinterest boards in my free time. I will throw down when Beyoncé comes on the radio, and I will sing at the top of my lungs to Taylor Swift. I will eat Nutella out of the jar with a spoon and complain about how it’s not lower in calories. I will use the new Snapchat update way too much.
Embrace yourself, no matter what. If someone makes fun of you for being the way you are, then who cares? They’re probably just salty because they haven’t figured out how to use the new Snapchat update yet. It happens.
Basic or not, you should never feel ashamed about what interests you, especially if it makes you happy. Big or small, significant or insignificant, don’t ever underestimate what makes you happy. Keep Instagramming your Sunday brunch. Keep wearing your favorite pair of leggings. And dammit, order that drink at Starbucks, even if the barista judges you for it.
