Stay With Us, a Listicle
Whether it’s brown paper packages tied up with string, making art, saying fuck you to the haters, or video games, finding a reason to stick around can be as easy as listing a few of your favorite things.
by Valorie Van-Dieman
Presumably, you have been following the news these last few weeks. If you haven’t… what rock have you been living under, and can I stay there for a bit? For everyone else, you know that things right now are bad. Many people, myself included, have struggled with staying here, because of these recent events or maybe for other reasons entirely.
We need to stay though, more than ever, we can’t let them beat us. So I decided to compile a list of my reasons, big and small, to help remind you to stay with us.
1: Sour Rainbow Belts
These are my favorite of all candies. If you’ve had them, I hope you like them at least half as much as I do. If you haven’t, stay and try them. And if these don’t appeal to you at all, substitute your own favorite treat!
2: Pizza
At some point in your life, I’m sure you’ve had some sort of pizza. If so, I don’t need to tell you that it’s delicious. Stay so you can have just one more, then keep staying for another after that.
3: Pets
I have a dog, the best dog in the world in fact. Despite me being a cat person, I love this dog to pieces. I can’t bear the idea of doing something that might make her sad, because I know she loves me too and I know she’d miss me.
4: Plants
Maybe you’re not an animal person, that’s fair, animals can be a lot. Plants are excellent to care for as well, and it’s nice to care for something. If you’ve got plants, stick around to keep them watered; if you don’t, might I recommend getting yourself a peace lily.
5: Music
I love music, I have my whole life. Listening to it, playing it, talking about it, anything. It is something I have always been able to turn to, and something I’ve always been able to look forward to.
6: Sushi
Food again, I know, I just derive a lot of joy out of food. Sushi is my favorite, however, bar none. Whether it’s from the nice restaurant downtown, the sushi they serve at the deli in my grocery store (is this common?), or something I’ve made at home from scratch, I know that I’m having a good day if I am enjoying my favorite food.
7: Travel
Is there somewhere you’ve always wanted to go? Somewhere far away, or just a town across the state? Ireland and Japan would be top of my list. Stay so you can be sure to see the places you love.
8: Making things
Have you ever wanted to make something? A knitted hat? Painting? A Gundam? Make it! Stay with us and be creative!
9: Outside
I can’t lie, I’m not much of an outdoors person (unusual for a pacific northwesterner like me, I know), I just like being cozy with my games too much. That said, I’d be lying if I said going outside into nature doesn't make me feel just a bit more energized and happy whenever I do.
10: Blahaj
If you have one of these, you know that they’re amazing. This big stuffed shark is just perfect for cuddling. Stay here so you can give these wonderful stuffed sea creatures the love they so deserve.
11: Coffee
Every morning I, like most Americans, drink a cup of coffee. It’s a morning routine that has brought me joy for years. It might be a little thing, but it gets me out of bed.
12: Silksong
Now, admittedly, I haven’t even come close to beating Hollow Knight myself, but many people I know love it. If you love this game, or have any other game you’re waiting for a release on, stick around so you can get a chance to see it. Silksong will need its fans around to play it whenever it finally releases.
13: Loved Ones
Do you have a best friend? A partner? Kids? Parents? Siblings? A nice cashier at the local convenience store who always says hi? Somebody loves you, and you being here makes the world all the better for them.
14: Tomorrow might be better
Tomorrow always has the capacity to be better, the bad times pass. It can take a bit sometimes but the world around you can always get better, and it will all the faster if you’re around to help
15: Spite
Don’t let them win. Even if nothing else on this list resonated with you, stay with us so that we can say together “Fuck you, we’re still here.”
Valorie Van-Dieman (she/her) is the editorial assistant at Assigned Media. @valorievandieman.bsky.social