Chances are you recognize Felicia Day.
Whether you think of her as "that woman from that TV show" (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Eureka, Supernatural), "that woman from that webseries" (The Guild, Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog) or "that woman from the Internet" (her online production company Geek & Sundry), Day's resume is long, varied and represented at most Comic Cons.
Day's journey from amateur to professional geek is chronicled in her new memoir, You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost). Funny, bold and inspiring, Day doesn't shy away from her achievements or her darker moments -- including her battles with anxiety and depression.
“If even one person is inspired to seek help or be more self-aware," she says, "that’s an awesome thing to get on a page and share with people.“
[seealso slug="margaret-atwood-wisdom"]
MashableReads spoke with the celebrated actress/writer/jack-of-all-trades and came away with 8 motivational quotes for anyone who's ever felt a little different.
On mental health and being honest with her story:
“You have to be ready to take advice…. I just reached the point that I had to change. If I reach one person at that point, that’d be great.”
How to get through creative blocks:
“Creating is not about yourself, it’s about other people.”
How to respond to "gatekeepers" in a community:
“I am who I am. I’m not going away, and if you don’t think I fit in your box, I have a different set of boxes. There is a perfectly wonderful way to be without conforming. That’s what the heart of the book is: You’re never weird, because the Internet has allowed people to accept the things that are different about us, to feel like an insider and to be supported. Which is really what we need in life to get over hard times.”
How to respond to hatred online:
“Proactive positivity is important, especially in the face of so much proactive negativity.”
On being yourself:
"It is everyone’s right to represent themselves as how they see themselves."
On using your voice:
"It’s just a question of being pioneers in a sense, and insisting on showing up. And eventually it will be not uncommon… Representation is the most important thing…. Sometimes it doesn’t occur to you that something is a possibility. We accept a lot of things we’re told are true that may not be true.”
On fandoms:
“Community always comes first”
Finally, on why the Internet is great:
“I think the Internet has allowed a lot of people to be more proud of what they love. Everyone is reflected online.”
You can find more advice in Day's book You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost). And be remember: it's okay to let your geek flag fly!