thealmostcarriediaries

[thealmostcarriediaries]

Do We Really Need Clichés? A Dive into the World of Predictable Comfort

I couldn’t help but wonder—do clichés get a bad rap?

It all started with an accident, the kind of accident that comes wrapped in the form of a university assignment and smacks you across the face when you least expect it. In this case, it was an annotated bibliography—a dreaded task with the sole purpose of making students scramble for sources that don’t make them fall asleep. So there I was, skimming through endless articles on art, culture, and theory, when I stumbled across a piece on clichés in country music. I almost laughed. Clichés? Really? Could there be anything more predictable?

But something about the title made me stop. I figured, why not? At the very least, it’d be entertaining and I would learn more about the genre, which made Taylor Swift start her music career. I clicked, expecting a quick skim and a light eye-roll. But then, something surprising happened.

The article wasn’t just analyzing worn-out tropes in country music; it was making a case for them. Those images we’re all familiar with—winding roads, the trusty old pickup, unrequited love under a big country sky—were framed as more than lazy storytelling. These weren’t just predictable phrases in a song; they were touchstones, shorthand for comfort in a world that, quite frankly, loves to keep us on our toes. Suddenly, I found myself drawn down a rabbit hole of thought I hadn’t seen coming. Could it be that clichés aren’t lazy, but loyal? Like an old friend who shows up in familiar jeans and tells the same jokes, they might be boring, but we find ourselves grateful they’re still around.

So, I couldn’t help but wonder: do clichés serve a purpose we’re not giving them credit for? Think about it. Clichés in music, in movies, even in our everyday conversations—they’re the psychological equivalent of that old sweater we pretend not to love but always pull out when the temperature drops. A cozy blanket on a rainy day. Familiarity wrapped in sentiment. The world is chaotic, unpredictable. Clichés are anything but.

Maybe we mock them because they remind us too much of ourselves, of the little corners we retreat to when we want comfort. Or maybe they reveal a truth we’d rather ignore—that sometimes, we don’t need newness or surprise. We need the same old tune, the same tired lyrics, because they make us feel like we know where we are, and where we’re going—even if we’re humming along to the same chorus we swore we were done with.

The big question is: would we really miss them if they were gone?

[thealmostcarriediaries]

What Just Happened, America?

I couldn’t help but wonder… how did we end up here, a country so fiercely divided that even basic principles feel up for debate? As a Master’s student in American Studies, I’ve been glued to this election, tracking every twist and turn like an investigator trying to make sense of a complex case. Yet, despite all that analysis, the ending still left me reeling. America—the land of second chances, sure, but is it also the land of endless déjà vu? A convicted criminal, back in the Oval Office. And there was a highly qualified woman, waiting for a chance to lead. Yet, here we are. Cue the questions.

Why This Choice? What’s behind this loyalty to someone with a record that practically screams “red flag?” This candidate doesn’t exactly champion women’s rights—in fact, it’s as if he’s actively flipping through a list of those hard-won freedoms and crossing them out, one by one. Immigration? He’s made it clear he’s happy to pull up the ladder, casting aside the very people who breathe life into this nation. And the ugly, incendiary remarks? Like his statement about immigrants “eating the cats and dogs.” I mean, how can you say that and expect to be taken seriously? Yet, somehow, he is.

When Friends Vote ‘Red’ This election has me questioning people I thought I knew. Friends, acquaintances, and others—they’re not just whispering support for him; they’re openly casting their votes his way. And I find myself staring at them, wondering: Is this just politics, or is it a chasm in values? How do I bridge that? Or do I even try?

America: Fork in the Road? Sometimes it feels like I’m watching a movie in reverse. Just when it seems like progress is on the horizon, we snap back, like a rubber band, to a past I thought America had moved beyond. As someone studying this country from afar, it’s like reading a plot twist you can’t quite believe. The America I’ve been studying, the one that prides itself on change and progress, just voted for regression. And as jarring as it feels, maybe this is a rallying cry.

-> It’s tempting to feel disheartened, to look at this choice and feel a pang of sadness for what could have been. But maybe this is a wake-up call, a reminder that the future isn’t a given. It’s shaped by those who refuse to sit down, shut up, or look the other way.

[thealmostcarriediaries]

Finding My Way in My Twenties: A Journey of Self-Discovery (and Possible Chaos)

Ah, the twenties—the decade where you’re expected to have it all together, but instead you feel like you’re starring in a sitcom where no one knows the script. Honestly, I thought I’d be living my best Friends life by now, but here I am, still trying to figure out if I should spend my last few bucks on a fancy latte or a week’s worth of pest. Spoiler alert: pesto usually wins.

Life feels like a constant juggling act. Some of my friends are settling down, getting married, and starting families, while others are out there living it up like they’re on a never-ending vacation. And then there's me—caught in the middle, deep in the trenches of adulthood, trying to land a steady internship while squeezing in trips around the world whenever I can. Here’s hoping I get to explore it all before I’m scoring senior discounts!

You know what’s wild? I used to be so confident as a kid! I could decide what snack to eat with the ease of a game show contestant. Now? I’m over here contemplating the life-changing implications of choosing between popcorn or chocolate for movie night. If only adulting came with an instruction manual—or at least a guide on how to adult without spiraling into existential dread!

So, in an effort to make sense of this wild ride, I’ve decided to start this blog. It’s just for me, really, because let’s be honest—who would willingly choose to read my ramblings? (And I decided not to use any Hashtags for this) But if you’re here, welcome! Buckle up, because we’re in for a ride that might be slightly bumpy but hopefully full of laughter.

Now, here’s the kicker: my friends and I have decided to embrace a “winter arc.” That’s right, we’re using the cold months to hibernate… I mean, to work on ourselves! While we are hitting the gym and others are picking up new hobbies, I’m also over here thinking, “What if I finally try dating?” Yep, that terrifying concept that sends shivers down my spine—like I’m starring in a horror movie where the monster is actually just awkward small talk.

The truth is, I’ve never been on a date. My experience with guys usually ends with them either developing a crush on me or turning into a real-life horror story. You know the type—creepy texts, unsolicited advice, and the occasional “Why don’t you love me?” It’s enough to make anyone want to just cuddle up with a good book and some snacks instead. Let's be honest, Book Boyfriends are just so much better.

But it’s time to step out of my cozy bubble of comfort and bravely face the dating world! Who knows? Maybe I’ll meet someone who’s just as awkward as I am, and we’ll bond over our mutual inability to navigate social situations. Here’s to embracing the chaos, collecting stories, and hopefully finding a few laughs along the way.

So, join me on this journey through my twenties—where I try to figure out life, love, and the elusive balance between self-improvement and Netflix binge-watching. Let the adventure begin!