If you're a major Supernatural fan, then you definitely recognize Felicia Day as Charlie Bradbury. The show is how I first became a fan of the talented actress, writer, producer, gamer, and professional Comic-Con attendee. For others obsessed with all things TV, like me, you probably know the 36-year-old star for her hand in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Eureka, and her own creation, The Guild. However, if you're more into the online world, then you definitely know Day for being no stranger to the gaming community and the web world. Well, now, the multihyphenate is letting everyone get to know her better with her brand new memoir, You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) . "I just love to see the impact of what I do on other people's lives and I thought it was a great opportunity to make it a permanent place for all my stories to live," she says during a phone chat.
Day believes her stories from her childhood, teenage years, and struggling adulthood can help others, and show that the Internet is a positive place. When it came to sharing her story, it wasn't an easy journey, but she managed to overcome those fears. "What got me through that self-consciousness or shyness about sharing things was that I backed up and thought every step of the way, 'How am I helping somebody with this story?'" Overall, she hopes others will be inspired by her story, change a little bit, and embrace who they truly are. For her, "being useful is important" and there's no doubt her memoir is a guide for anyone who feels like they don't belong in this world.
Throughout the entire book, Day offers up all kinds of amazing life advice that will truly impact others, especially young girls, women, those who don't feel accepted, and those who are struggling in life. And that's where Day's personal stories and the Internet come into play. Many might look at the online world as a placed filled with negativity, but for Day, she says it's actually a positive world:
The wonderful thing about the Internet is that it doesn't matter where you are physically, you can connect with people who make you feel like you belong in millions of ways around the world. That could open doors for you, for either a career or just day-to-day happiness that is immensely fulfilling.
She looks at technology and the Internet as providing connections that truly transform the world in a positive way. "It's the first time in our existence that that connection is possible," Day says. "So whatever negatives the Internet can bring, I think it brings way more positives. Focusing on the positives and teaching people to value the positive influence they can have is really the key."
She continues, "It's harder to remember to be proactively loving and positive, because there is so much proactive negativity. So, pushing back against that with positivity is the way to drown out some of the negative voices, even if they're in your own head or wherever you are, online or off."
Day hopes people will "embrace [their] weird" and live life for themselves. And with that, I'll leave you with this quote from the new author about what she hopes people take away from her memoir:
I hope people take away the idea that the Internet is a place where you can share your creation or connection with people in a really positive way. I hope that people find something they're afraid of, especially in the creative space, and jump in and surround themselves with supportive people, so that they can be brave. Being brave is kind of the key to everything. I've not had an easy time most of my life. The sense of meaning I got from creating a community online got me through a lot of hard times. Be cautious of the people around you and always look inside yourself to follow your joy. Then, I think you're pretty well-off in life.
You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) is available for purchase, so be sure to get your copy.
Images: Christina Gandolfo
