TO LISTEN TO ME WHINE?
It'sĀ National Emo Day, so don your skinny jeans and tight tees and queue up some Saves the Day or Sunny Day Real Estate or something to that Reggie & The Full Effect.
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Personally, I am still on my 12 Days of Festivus grind, and here to air more grievances. Airing grievances is kind of emo, so that works out.
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Today's beef is with people who feel compelled to chastise us and everyone else about ourĀ Grievance Journal.* At least a few times per day a complainer feels compelled to tell us that our journal isĀ supernaturally terrible, bad for people, encouraging negativity,** etc.
I hold a special degree of contempt for the commenters who try to add an air of authority to their complaint, dressing it up in the language of pop psychology, proudly displaying the mental health "expertise" that they gleaned from internet memes. Being both wrongĀ andĀ incredibly smug about it is a special kind of annoying.
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Actual professionals with advanced degrees in psychology have found thatĀ gratitude isn't a universal salveĀ AND thatĀ venting frustrations in writing can be helpful,Ā but sure, GoodVibesOnly89 on Instagram knows best.
Hate all you want, haters, but our customers don't share your ill-informed opinions. Behold, reviews from actual journal owners (including a therapist)...
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*This is so meta; I am complaining about people complaining about a journal for complaining. Does this count as a fractal?
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**Isn't complaining about a journal also being negative?
While I'm airing grievances about comments on our Grievance Journal, I also wish people would stop commenting that you can get the same item on Amazon for 1/4 of the price.Ā You cannot, I assure you, the counterfeit journal on Amazon is blank. It is loaded with one star reviews from people who already got tricked. If you want a blank notebook just go to a dollar store and don't get scammed.
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If you haven't started your holiday shopping yet and want to get items by the 25th your best bet is toĀ shop Boredwalk locallyĀ if you're near one of our stockistsĀ or just get aĀ gift card. We are doing our best to ship everything as fast as possible, but even if we ship an order you place today in the next 24 hours we cannot promise it will arrive by the 24th. We're artists, not teleporters!
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Want a few December 19th famous birthdays and historical facts before you go? Here's a few...
ā¢ Born on this day: actorĀ Jake GyllenhaalĀ (1980), actressĀ Alyssa MilanoĀ (1972), actressĀ Cicely TysonĀ (1924), singerĀ Ćdith PiafĀ (1915), and actress/presumed vampireĀ Jennifer Beals* (1963)
*I am presuming this woman is a vampire because she never seems to age. No amount of moisturizer explains that face, unless that moisturizer is the blood of virgins (which she has definitely been guzzling).Ā
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ā¢ On this day in 2012Ā South Korea elected their first female President, Park Geun-hye, as the eleventh President of South Korea, and is the first female head of state in Northeast Asia
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ā¢ On this day in 1843Ā "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens was publishedĀ and 6,000 copies were sold
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Alright!Ā Scroll on down to learn all about fellow Boredwalk fan Kari!Ā IfĀ you'dĀ like to be featured in an upcoming Monday email (and are a customer with some Boredwalk tees, tanks, hoodies, towels, bags, or books to show off), just reply to this and let us know, and we'll send you some fun questions to answer (along with our undying gratitude)!
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We'll be back here in your inbox on Wednesday with some more random holidays to observe, historical tidbits to acknowledge, and fun links to entertaining content! Until next time...
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Peace, love, and grievances,
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Meredith
1. What's your actual day job and what's your dream day job?
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Writer and journalist by day. I used to work in the music industry in London, so I've pretty much already had my dream day job. And yes, I've got
the stories to prove it.
the stories to prove it.
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2. What's your biggest pet peeve?
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Rude people. Seriously, it takes just as long to be nice as it does to be a jerk.
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3. What's a book you think the Boredwalk community should read?
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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyĀ by Douglas Adams.
4. If you could make a mundane wish (meaning, a wish for something seemingly inconsequential that you still believe would benefit you immensely), what would it be for?
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Unlimited resources and no government ties.
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5. What is something you wish you could go back in time and say to your younger self?
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You're going to do the things you dreamed about ā stop being in such a damn hurry.
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6. If you could have any super power what would it be and why?
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Does The Force count? I think it should.
7.Ā You can curse your nemesis with a minor annoyance for eternity; what do you choose?
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A never-ending itch they can never scratch.
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8. What experience do you most want to cross off your bucket list?
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I've got a huge list of countries I still want to visit. Stupid pandemic and health issues put me off my stride!
9. Clear up a misconception (about your job, where you are from, some other topic you know a lot about).
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I'm currently waiting on the liver transplant list. Yes, it's scary ā but I've decided to see the funny, positive side about it and turn it into a way to help others like me. When I was diagnosed I decided to start the Merle & Me campaign (Merle is the name I gave my liver, because he's "haggard"). Through it, I'm hoping to raise money to fund continued
transplant research and help with medical costs for those who might not be able to afford this life-saving surgery.
transplant research and help with medical costs for those who might not be able to afford this life-saving surgery.
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So here's the misconception peppered with a little advice: No matter what you're going through, always look for hope and hilarity in the journey.
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10. Where can the rest of the Boredwalk community find you?Ā
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If I'm not standing around a tiny club silently judging the next hot new band, you can find me blogging about my transplant experience atĀ merleandme.org. I'm also on the 'gram atĀ @apopquizkid.
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