My Username Explained – BEDA #3

I’m always curious to hear the stories behind other peoples usernames so today I’m going to make you sit through mine...actually I can’t make you as I have no control over your computers. If you want to hear the story keep reading otherwise feel free to wander over to the other areas of the internet you frequent.

Most of you know I go by joyfulgirl42 most places on the internet (expect youtube because they don’t allow you to change you username *rant rant rant* ... right moving on). We’ll start with the 42 first. I mostly just use it because straight up words and phrases tend to be taken on most websites. Most of you know it is a reference to Douglas Adams’ Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.  In the book 42 is the answer to the great question of life, the universe, and everything.  I mostly just chose it because I don’t like picking random numbers and I didn’t really want to splash my birth year all over the internet. The part of the username that is actually significant is joyfulgirl. This is a reference to the Ani Difranco song Joyful Girl. I feel like this song simultaneously represents the person I wish to be and the person I currently am.   

Lyrics:

I do it for the joy it brings

because I’m a joyful girl

because the world owes me nothing

and we owe each other the world

I do it because it's the least I can do

I do it because I learned it from you

and I do it just because I want to

because I want to

everything I do is judged

and they mostly get it wrong

but oh well

'cuz the bathroom mirror has not budged

and the woman who lives there can tell

the truth from the stuff that they say

and she looks me in the eye

and says would you prefer the easy way

no, well o.k. then

don't cry

I wonder if everything I do

I do instead

of something I want to do more

the question fills my head

I know there's no grand plan here

this is just the way it goes

when everything else seems unclear

I guess at least I know

I do it for the joy it brings

because I'm a joyful girl

because the world owes me nothing

and we owe each other the world

I do it because it's the least I can do

I do it because I learned it from you

and I do it just because I want to

because I want to