The most repeated phrase in my group chats throughout 2021 and beyond remains, “I'm running off of spite and delusion.” I've personally uttered some iteration of that line nearly every week since the beginning of the pandemic. Whether they’re in regards to the impending doom of an unnecessary social interaction or simply being confronted with the never-ending tasks of being an adult, my self-delusions keep me afloat. It’s why I’ve embraced the new “delusional girl” TikTok trend that encourages escapism, particularly for Black women.
The word “delusional” is usually used negatively, but it’s time to reexamine what it means outside the context of mental illness, especially at a time when our mental health is fragile as hell.
