Don't Let the Haters Get in Your Way: Advice from a Peep 🐾

Every spring, like clockwork, a great debate emerges that takes up more time in store aisles and around the watercooler than most political races. You guessed it, it’s the Great Peep Debate. You either love can’t imagine a holiday without them, or you want to keep them cooped up in their sad little boxes hidden away somewhere (probably in the warehouse with Twinkies). You love them or hate them, and you feel compelled to share your opinion openly no matter which side of the aisle you stand on.

But despite that:

• Peeps have been around since 1953 and have been the best-selling non-chocolate Easter candy for more than 20 years.

• Every year, enough of these sugar-coated critters are produced to circle the globe 2.5 times (that’s about 2 billion to you data lovers).

• Americans purchase more than 700 million Peeps just during Easter season alone.
  

Why? Well, there are a few reasons.

Peeps evoke positivity. Whether you love them or hate them. Whether you celebrate the holiday or not. Peeps remind us of our childhood as most of us had them in our house for one reason or another because, let’s face it, they’re cute! If you didn’t like to eat them, you played with them . . . or microwaved them. Regardless of why, the sight of peeps brings a smile. I wonder, isn’t likely that the haters truly may not hate them? I’d be willing to bet some of the “haters” are standing at a cash register at this moment, peeps in hand, to gift to a child.

Peeps have stayed true to themselves. Walk into any store right now and you can find spicy-flavored ones, cake-flavored ones, pancake-flavored ones and even soda-flavored ones. Heck you can even find peep-flavored soda. But at the heart of each of those is the same gritty sugar-covered marshmallow taste of the original yellow chicks and pink bunnies. They never really waiver far away from who they are, even though the haters mock them for their over-the-topness.

Peeps are sturdy. In 1998 CNN report that Peeps were part of an actual research study to see what could cause the marshmallow candy to dissolve. The results? Peeps are some of the sturdiest birds in the world.

Peeps have adjusted for the times by poking fun at themselves. Looking for a non-candy gift this holiday? Like crazy bright colors? A quick internet search and at your fingertips will the some of the cutest, and maybe gaudiest, merchandise available. Sneakers emblazoned with hundreds of pictures of the sugar-coated treats, charm bracelets with them dangling off, a build your own giant rainbow-colored peep stuffed bunny and even a peep pickle hat are just a few of the off-the-wall swag items that you can make part of your life. Peeps have embraced their novelty, reached a wider audience, and increased revenue.

The haters hate and the Peeps are fine with that. They have embraced the adversity, and have run with it. Now the haters are joining the lovers, buying the products, and licensing their use.

If peeps evoke positivity, stay true to themselves, use hate to their advantage and continually succeed, why can’t you?

Try following the advice of my favorite treat, and don’t let the haters bring you down. Show the world just how sturdy you are, and soar to your greatest heights.

#thewhinebar #felinefinefriday #ifanimalscouldtalk #selfcare #theallybrown #writingforhumanity #blastradiusbookbyally