How To Generate Main Character Energy
This past Sunday, I woke up prepared to be on the couch all day due to Hurricane Henri. Henri ended up being nothing but an hour of rain, which we should have known based on the pronunciation of his name. On-ree is definitely a French male who is way too cool for us but briefly enters our lives to make a big fucking mess of it.
Despite the anticlimactic storm, I spent the entire day on the couch watching both seasons of This Way Up and crying my eyes out. Ugh. Have you ever felt profoundly connected to the main character of a show or movie? Aine is me! I am Aine. She makes jokes out of everything, often at inappropriate times and at her expense, is an extreme empath, makes bad decisions, and is struggling with her mental health. In fact, the show opens with her getting out of rehab after a breakdown.
The show is very funny, but I could not stop CRYING! I felt everything she felt, and even the way people in her life treated her (both good and bad) made me cry. I was so happy the show existed because it’s relatable and fun and different. But why was I so god damn upset?!
BECAUSE THAT IS MY MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY!
Have you heard of that phrase? It’s just the Gen Z self-love mantra of 2021.
Yasmine Sahid, who calls herself the ‘main protagonist’ in her TikTok bio, told Bustle that “We all want to be the main character of our town and we all want to show our old high school classmates that we’re living our best life, even if we’re not.” I feel that. I mean, there’s nothing more terrifying to me than running into a high school classmate at the grocery store… even if they’re my best friend.
So how can we all generate some of that MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY?
First, nail the morning routine.
Wake up and do an over-the-top yawn. Turn off your real alarm clock, step out of bed and make it immediately, then head to the kitchen to turn on your coffee maker. Pick up your phone that is charging in the kitchen (because MAIN CHARACTERS don’t sleep with their phones in the bedroom anymore.) Scroll through the News app and see what’s going on in the world.
Make a full breakfast. Fry up some eggs, toast some toast, and make some turkey bacon or chicken sausage. Pour a glass of orange juice from a real pitcher, and eat it all at the dining room table while reading a book, probably a memoir. Or maybe do some morning journaling.
Take a shower, spritz some rose water on your face, and brush out your hair. Swipe on a coat of mascara and you’re fresh-faced and ready for the day. Grab the dog and take her out for a walk. She’s waiting by the door with her leash in her mouth! So cute.
Then, do the things that make you feel like a badass.
Head to the gym for an intense workout, something like spin or boxing. Then, leave the gym looking so put together as if you’ve never sweat in your life. Heels are a must… and a statement coat.
Walk into work and be greeted by a doorman who knows you well and always has gossip for you. Exit the elevator to the floor where you work and run into your best friend and closest colleague. You walk alongside each other, never making eye contact, talking about senior leadership drama… because you’re very important.
Wear skirt suits while you sit at the head of tables in conference rooms! Put your hair up and put on some glasses! You are a badass boss bitch babe.
Walk into a restaurant after work and sit at the bar. Order a fancy glass of wine or something that sounds fancy like a Sancerre. Flirt with the bartender, share an order of french fries with the guy next to you, then ask him out.
Wake up in his bed the next day, and wrap yourself in the covers so you can go to the bathroom and change. Giggle about it because it’s so silly! You’ve just seen each other naked! Tell him that YOU’RE not looking for a relationship right before leaving his nice house because you just remembered you have a dog.
Do the walk of no-shame home, and dance in the street, while “Sorry Not Sorry” by Demi Lovato plays.
Accidentally fall into an open sewer grate.
Die.
Roll credits.