To gain more insight into this topic, we reached out to Alexia Nicole Diaconescu, who runs the Wholesome blog and Instagram account. Alexia was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda about what "wholesome" means to her, as well as what inspired her to start sharing content online.
"Wholesome means unapologetically seeking to radiate kindness and advocate for what is morally right," the creator shared. "I was inspired to create my blog because I felt the need to nurture this yearning of expressing my intolerance of various catastrophic socioeconomic, environmental issues that various individuals of all backgrounds are victims of."
"I especially wanted to raise awareness about issues that should no longer be stigmatized or considered taboo yet continue to divide and dehumanize us," Alexia continued. "I decided to treat my blog as an informational diary, because I consider everything I write to be my unfiltered, raw soul."
"To specify, when writing an article, I always conduct thorough research on each pertinent issue I will pursue. Then, I will provide my commentary stemming from my ethical frameworks, experiences, and emotional intelligence," the creator shared. "My hope with my blog is to have a few individuals resonate with my blog’s aim of fostering a more just, equitable, compassionate, and safe society. Today, I have a community of like-minded, kind-hearted individuals from all over the world who want to make a positive impact and shed light upon various issues that must not be neglected."
Alexia believes that surrounding ourselves with wholesome things enables us to remain grounded, grateful, and appreciative for everything life has to offer. "I also think it provides us with the opportunity to surround ourselves with people who are instinctively driven by the goal of being intentional, profound and meaningful throughout their lives," she added.
"Thus, surrounding ourselves with wholesome things, memories, discourse, literature, music, art, etc. will nourish our personal growth, which will in turn stimulate our exposure to other wholesome moments, making us overall wholesome people. Moreover, we are more likely to live a happy life that we can look back on and reminisce on," Alexia continued. "Nostalgia generated as a result of protecting peace, and being honest, good people who inspire others to live a tangibly meaningful life that is worth living."
We also asked Alexia if she could share any advice for people who want to invite more wholesomeness into their lives. "Remain genuine and authentic to who you are. In an ever more increasingly suffocating and violent world, driven by selfishness and the need to sacrifice others for your benefit, kindness is scarce," she noted. "Hence, I recommend treating all malpractice and ill intentioned voices as white noise."
"You have to remember your values, why you need to uphold and protect them even in the face of adversity. You have to understand that not everyone wishes to seek more wholesome moments, and you shouldn’t let it deter you from fulfilling your goals," the creator says. "Furthermore, surround yourself with people who aid you in making efforts to become a better person every day; enjoy the activities and hobbies that make your heart full and inspire you to treat every day with optimism, empathy, purpose, and a work ethic to manifest all your ambitions."
"For those of you who wish to surround themselves with wholesome things, I am ecstatic and proud to share my upcoming TEDx talk called 'Accepting the Unknown to Thrive,' which will soon be published on the official 'TEDx Talks' YouTube channel, which explores in detail the steps we can take to become the best versions of ourselves, and as a result, belonging to a world consumed by wholesome things, and kindness," Alexia added.
"I believe my speech spreads a wholesome message, and I hope that it will inspire individuals of all backgrounds to crave aiding those in need, as well as always searching for wholesome things in their day to day lives even when unforeseen challenges arise," she told Bored Panda.
"A short synopsis of the talk would be that I explain the causes for fearing change, and that our fear of change is counterproductive and a form of self-sabotage. I share with you my friend’s story that illustrates how she adapts to the volatility of change even though, in her case, uncertainty has more severe consequences. Lastly, I will recommend you strategies to alter your perception of change, and to view change not as a hindrance, but rather, as an opportunity for growth."
We’re big fans of Wholesome Memes here at Bored Panda, which is why it’s not the first time we’ve featured the account. But clearly, we’re not the only ones who love these uplifting photos, as the account has amassed over 3 million followers on X and over a thousand followers on Instagram.
It’s more than simply just a page that will make you smile while scrolling through social media, though. Wholesome Memes also sells merchandise for charity and runs an annual Charity Drive.
“The profits from our sales are split between the artist's selected charity, the artist and the cost of operating the store,” the organization’s website states. “Charities currently supported include Kids Help Phone, The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Meals on Wheels America and Wholesome Wave.”
And if you’re interested in buying merch from Wholesome Memes, you can rest assured that you’re paying for a product that you can stand behind. “All our clothing manufacturers declare their products have no involvement in sweatshops, child and forced labor,” their website states.
“That is why our clothing lines focus on premium American Apparel and Bella Canvas brands. These brands are not the cheapest but ensure a fair wage at both the manufacturing and distribution level,” the Wholesome Memes team continues. “All artwork is licensed, commissioned or Creative Commons licensed. Charitable contributions for each product are selected by the licensor (artist).”
It’s no secret that there’s a lot of bad news in the world. I mean, it’s difficult to open your computer or scroll through social media without learning about a new tragedy. And while it’s important to stay up to date with what’s going on in the world, it’s also crucial to take care of your own mental health. So resist the urge to doomscroll, and instead, focus on bringing some positivity into each day. And if you’re struggling with looking on the bright side, getting in your daily dose of uplifting memes might be the perfect place to start!
Wholesome content has exploded in popularity on the internet in recent years, and for good reason. While we watched a pandemic ravage the world, it took a conscious effort to find reasons to smile. Today, millions around the globe are worried about the state of climate change and what that means for our world as well. It’s easy to feel like the future is bleak. Headlines about natural disasters and acts of terror are everywhere. But we need to find good in the world. And when you can’t find that in front of you, you can always turn to the internet for some wholesome memes!
As far as why we’re all insatiable for wholesome things nowadays, Emily McGowan at The Good Trade says this kind of uplifting content feels “like a nice, round solution to the depletion we’re all feeling.” We need to feel safe and comfortable to have motivation in this world. And we all deserve to find joy in the little things. Now, this might be something different for every person: a coffee date with a friend or baking muffins in your kitchen on a Sunday morning. But it’s not healthy to live in doom and gloom all the time. We’re craving wholesome moments, and we need to find them.
The youngest generation, in particular, seems dedicated to the quest of finding wholesome things. The Standard reports that Gen Z has been very active on social media posting and sharing wholesome content. After all, images of adorable kittens and videos of grandparents singing can provide a welcomed break from the heartbreaking headlines that we’re often bombarded with when we open our laptops.
