Hi! How are you? How’s your day been?
Alright! Cool! What a fruitful two-way conversation!
Writing a first blog post is like yelling into the abyss, or monologuing to an auditorium of empty chairs. Obviously, that’s normal on the internet: Content comes first, then you cultivate an audience, if you do it right.
In general, constraints aren’t really my thing, so I want to avoid limiting myself with this blog. In addition to my messiest anecdotes—I’ve been told I’m cursed—assume any of the following topics will be fair game in posts to come:
1. Bigotry, prejudice, and fear of the other
(Mario voice) Heeeere we go! The idea that anyone is inherently better or worse than others because of factors outside their control makes my eyes roll into the back of my skull. Discrimination takes many forms, and I want to dropkick all of them off the face of the Earth. Here’s to realistic goals!
2. ANIMALS
We humans don’t deserve dogs, elephants, penguins, or cats—even when those last ones destroy our belongings. I had a friend whose cat once pooped in her shoe, which is both disgusting and hilarious, mostly because it didn’t happen to me. I plan to pepper my favorite animal photos and videos throughout this blog.
3. Climate change and its deniers
The polar vortex is collapsing; California has been on fire for years; and research shows that devastating Atlantic hurricanes in recent years were made all the more devastating by climate change. Also, it got so ridiculously hot last summer that pavement in the U.K. actually melted. The evidence isn’t just scientific anymore; all we have to do is look around and take in the world around us. Yet there are still those who refuse to open their eyes. To combat this denial, it’s crucial to explore the mindset behind it.
4. Art therapy and social bonding
Writing has been a form of self-care for me since I was young. Freeform prose and pseudo-poetry are excellent emotional outlets. But I’ve also recently taken up painting, and there’s something about creating unique, wild imagery that, ironically, makes me feel in control. And it’s especially fun with friends!
5. The importance of cheese
The GIF below of Liz Lemon from 30 Rock munching on a whole block of cheddar, singing, and wearing a Snuggie represents the essence of my being. Imagine a whole anthology of love poetry, all devoted to different kinds of cheese. That’s my dream project. I’m a Manchego Maniac, a Gouda Gremlin, a Gruyere Goblin, and a Brie Beast. It’s kind of a problem. Someone please stop me.
6. Mental health and stigmas surrounding emotional expression
Tonal switch! This is a heavy one: The way American culture deals with mental illness is beyond reprehensible; it’s revolting. This culture encourages emotional suppression while hurling pharmaceuticals at the problem. And the side effects of those pharmaceuticals can be devastating. we have to do better than this.
7. Sexual assault and sex trafficking.
These are subjects I don’t really get into often, because they make me want to cry, vomit, and/or hit something. But they’re topics that must be discussed. I was privileged to spend a semester at UNC covering assault and trafficking in my reporting class, and it opened my eyes to their massive scope. Awareness is key to mitigation, and I want to raise it. We must fight the silence that has shrouded these subjects for so long.
8. Secular Judaism + the politics of Judaism in modern culture.
This is…A lot. There’s no way I could tackle it in just one post. As a self-professed “bad Jew”, a.k.a. someone who’s been largely out of touch with her Jewish identity all her life, I don’t necessarily feel qualified to talk about it, either. But I’ve recently reconnected with that identity, so I want to try. I need to try.
9. & 10. Music and laughter
Both of these are so healing, and I want to include them in this blog somehow. Not everything I post should be political commentary. In the immortal words of Shrek, “Ogres are like onions. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers.” I’m not saying I’m an ogre, but I’m also NOT not saying that.
This blog will be multifaceted, like an ogre. In addition to animals, I plan to include music recs and jokes I find online that make me choke on my own spit. Even if no one sees any of this, I can always look back on these posts in the future and engage in some of my favorite pastimes: reading, dancing, and cackling to myself.
Diana Pressey is a senior advertising/public relations major at UNC-Chapel Hill. In addition, she’s an editorial and content marketing intern at InHerSight and campaigns team lead at the 1893 Brand Studio. In her free time, she enjoys reading and writing, dancing badly at concerts, belly laughing, and hanging out with other people’s pets. Click here to learn more about her, here to read previous blog posts, and here to get in touch.