I hate to be this person, but I cannot hide who I am. I am basic.
Saying someone is basic is usually an insult. Below is the exact definition from dictionary.com, the slang edition.
Basic characterizes someone or something as unoriginal, unexceptional, and mainstream. A basic girl is said to like pumpkin spice lattes, UGG boots, and taking lots of selfies, for instance.
I don’t find myself to be unoriginal, unexceptional, and mainstream. Can’t you guys let me love Taylor Swift without insulting my intelligence?
You won’t find me drinking a pumpkin spice latte, but you will see me slurping an extra-large iced coffee as a little treat in the morning on the way to work.
I do wear UGG boots, but they are from 2001 so I don’t know if they even count. They are stained from wearing them in the snow while walking to parties in college – without a coat, I might add.
I am not taking a lot of selfies, but my phone camera is full of pictures of my kids, dog, and screenshots of DIY projects that I will never do.
Here is a list of the basic things, some fall related, some not, for which I believe people should stop judging:
Fall-scented candles:
Do you have something against the smell of gingersnap cookies? Do you hate the scent of a baked apple strudel? Appreciate the joy it brings to your nostrils.
Leggings:
I have no words. Leggings are what I live in when I’m not at work. They are sensible. You can bend, squat, hold kids, vacuum your house, rearrange furniture, do a quick workout, and power wash the fence. Leggings have multiple uses and women are multi-taskers.
Running into curbs with our cars:
This is not something that basic people do, this is something that everybody does. I saw you, Sir Judge-A-Lot, in the Starbucks parking lot that is far too small, and you ran right over the curb.
Large cups for water:
I like to stay hydrated. I drink a lot of Diet Mountain Dew and I must balance that out with a large amount of water. Do I have a Stanley? No. I have a cheap $30 cup. But people still judge.
Wearing hoodies:
Fall is a time to relax and be comfortable. Get cozy by the fire. And what is cozier than a big sweatshirt with a hood you can put up when you feel antisocial? Nothing. Nothing is better. A sweatshirt without a hood just doesn’t cut it. You need protection for your ears when it starts getting cold.
Watching reality TV:
We all have our vices. Mine might be watching other people look for love on trashy television. Reality TV is something I can watch without having to think. It’s my escape time. My reality TV obsession is similar to everyone else’s obsession with watching the same episodes of Friends over and over.
I hope that this year, you take it easy on us basic girls. We are just trying to live our lives the best we can.
Have a great fall, y’all!
