Slow Life is the Opposite of Basic

Alyson Gets Real

May 16

Ain’t nothing basic here. My niece is modeling my hand embroidered linen crop top with lapis lazuli earrings. Click on the photo to shop the earrings.

Everyone knows the meme of the "Basic Bitch.” The phrase is a bit passe but the idea is relevant. Basicness is the embodiment of consumer culture. A basic person buys what they are told to buy without any sort of understanding of self. It is the photo of the pretty white woman decked out in J. Crew, a rose gold watch on her wrist, sipping a Starbucks PSL and holding a Michael Kors bag. And there are different versions of basicness; the basic Hot Topic shopper who finds their music on the radio and the video vixen wannabe that only wears knockoffs of designers mentioned in hip-hop songs. “Basic” in any form is really about trying to impress others by following trends.

For one moment extend this idea of basicness to other areas. People traveling to multiple countries at a breakneck pace to collect passport stamps without enjoying their vacation. Or buying an expensive Green Egg even though you don’t cook. Or going to events just to take Instagram selfies. Often these things are done for bragging rights, not for enjoyment. The brands that people buy into is all about status and less about personal fulfillment.

The world is too vast for you to not enjoy your life. You don’t need to purge yourself of your possessions. Just ask yourself: WHY do you like those possessions? WHY did you attend that event? If you find that your answers are along the lines of braggadocio (i.e. “I thought it would look great on my IG feed”) it's worth considering if you actually liked that thing you did. Did you actually like that food at that restaurant? Did it add to your life?

Your life is special and unique. Spend your time doing things worthy of your special and unique time. Buy things that mean something to you. Adulthood ain’t high school and no one cares what the fuck you wear. Just live slowly by being yourself.