Culture This & That

I had an epiphany this summer. Over various walks, happily sipping Pink Drinks and bouncing along to Carly Rae Jepsen’s bops on repeat, I began to realize with swelling acceptance and growing pride that I, Samara Gation… am… a BASIC BISH! And far from being embarrassed, I own it.

You’re a good person, so you’re probably thinking, “Aw, don’t sell yourself short! You’re probably not that basic.” Thank you for the kind words, BUT after almost three decades of expending my limited resources avoiding being a basic bish, I am here to reclaim the term–nay, slur. 

Until recently, I could think of few things worse than being described as basic, and when I think about it, my attempts to avoid being basic have drained bits of my energy…drip… by… drip.

Basic–the opposite of special, regular, unremarkable… just there. The exact descriptors of a basic bish (or more commonly, basic bitch), vary from person to person, but there are common themes. According to Urban Dictionary, a basic bitch (or basic bish) “engages in typical, unoriginal behaviors, modes of dress, speech, and likes. She is tragically/laughably unaware of her utter lack of specialness and intrigue…. She is typical and a dime a dozen…. There are many subtypes of basicness,… but ultimately, they all share the common thread of being expendable and unnoteworthy…” Ouch. 

You might be thinking, “Samara, you want to be a basic bish? It sounds like the kiss of beige.” Yes. Yes, I do. Because, for me, embracing the basic bish title means freedom to be whatever I want to be. 

With my fortieth birthday looming, I am tired from half a lifetime of fighting myself and the things I want. Too often, while making dinner plans with a friend, I’ve found myself typing, “This Friday, I just want a margarita and chips with guac–or is that too basic? We can do something else!” (i.e. I want a margarita and chips with guac, but if it’s too boring, we can do something else I don’t want because I’m afraid of being considered boring–a basic bish.) Even in my alone time: Chick lit? Basic–I should probably read some actual literature. Chardonnay? Kind of yum, but I heard it’s for basic housemoms, so I should prob not get too into it. Pop music? Fun, but balance Carly Rae Jepsen with some jazz, soul, or classic rock so you’re not toooo basic. Sometimes, I’ve find myself wondering if I actually like the things I like or if I’ve learned to like them so I won’t be basic. Enough! 

Look, I know we all need to grow, evolve, and nurture our multiple layers because it’s fulfilling to be well rounded. Yes, we should all cultivate ourselves and become our best selves that we can be. And if that best version of oneself includes a Starbucks Pumpkin Spiced Latté or a Pink Drink, frozen margaritas, guacamole and chips for dinner, heck, even a “Live. Love. Laugh” sign, let’s relish in those simple pleasures! 

So, once more for the people in the back: I, Samara Gation, am a basic bish. I love long walks on a fall crisp day with a PSL in hand. I love brunch with the girls, being in the besties’ bridal parties, have an entire bookshelf full of trashy novels, and live for Prosecco-soaked girls’ nights out.

You’re smart and perceptive, so you know that the root of my fear of being basic as an adult was a teenager’s fear that I would never be one of the cool kids. (And, yes, I realize that it is no longer cool to say cool.) I wanted to be one of the cool kids, so I spent my teens, twenties, and thirties chasing that goal. And, as I turn forty, I’m letting that go. I never did become one of the cool kids, and who cares? You know who cares? Fifteen-year-old me cared. And what did that snobby little kid know about anything? STFU, teenage Samara. You’re a virgin who can’t drive. 

Time flies, so don’t waste any of yours suppressing your true self. Embrace your inner basic bish. We all have one. It’s the part of you that likes all the things young you was afraid (or knew) were uncool. And when you see me this fall, strolling around on a crisp fall day in a cozy cardigan, sipping a PSL, raise your own drink in the air, and we can toast to being BASIC BISHES!   

In honor of my basic bish coming out party, here’s a Spotify Carly Rae Jepsen playlist for you. It’s called, “Basic Bish, Embrace Thyself!”

By Samara Gation

Picture credit: Canva