We all have those things that we enjoy that we tend not to broadcast to others. Maybe you love the Twilight films, maybe you still read YA literature at 35, or maybe you listen to obscure '80s music alone in the car. These are what society tends to call guilty pleasures, but there's nothing guilty about them.
The only reason that we tend to feel guilt over indulging in so-called, "guilty pleasures" is because we are made to feel bad for liking them. They are just pleasures. "Guilty" only came about because others are telling us that we shouldn't like this or shouldn't feel proud about enjoying that. Society and social norms have decided what is okay and what is not okay to like. We are made to feel shame over the things that we like, and when we say that we feel "guilty" about this, think of what we are saying about those that are proud to enjoy these things.
It's time we stopped using the phrase "guilty pleasure" all together. If something makes you happy, you shouldn't hide that; nor should we judge others or make them feel bad over something like their taste in music or little habits. Giving up the word guilty allows us to treat ourselves, place more worth in ourselves and the things we enjoy, and be genuinely happy without feeling shame for that. By doing away with guilty pleasures, we get rid of this nonsensical idea that the things we like, whether deemed good or bad, are directly tied to who we are.
Admitting that we like something such as a "horrible" movie, does not mean that we aren't smart, have worse taste, or are any less than our peers. When we called it a "guilty" pleasure, it was to let others know "Hey, see, I recognize that it's bad so you don't have to judge me." We shouldn't have to do that, and as a society, we should accept that other people may like something that is generally thought of as bad and that it has nothing to do with who they are or how they think.
There isn't a single person out there that can say they don't have a "guilty" pleasure. We all have them and we all need them. We need these "bad" things to help us feel better, unwind, or escape our lives for a while. We don't have to think when we dive into these "bad" or low quality or cheesy things. And doesn't everyone want that sometimes? Accept that you love something that most people don't, embrace that you do something that isn't the norm, and be proud of the things that make you happy in life. It's completely okay to love something that you "shouldn't."
