Meet the Awesome Face of Posicore

This picture hangs above my bed. I put it there because it makes me happy and I want it to be the last thing I see before I fall asleep. It’s fitting that my photographer friend Toby Bannister took it because she’s the person who introduced me to the idea of posicore. She dropped the word after we’d spent a perfect day hanging out in the sunshine, eating snacks and laughing. Again, fitting.

A quick Wikipedia search will tell you posicore is a hardcore movement that focuses on positive messages. But I’m going to one-up that definition and describe it as a way of life—a consistently happy way of life that many people here in Vancouver seem to strive towards. (I’m still learning.) Lyndsay Sung of the mind-blowing Coco Cake Cupcakes and our city’s official #1 fan, Vancouver is Awesome, are just two examples that immediately come to mind.

But the perfect definition of posicore is embodied in a little fellow named Grampa. For those of you who don’t have the pleasure of knowing him, Grampa is a Chihuahua/Boston Terrier cross who belongs to my dear friends Abby Campbell and Dave Shumka. Abby is the most unflappable person I’ve ever met and Dave is one of our city’s most talented comedians. It’s no wonder their dog ended up being the happiest, most awesome creature this world has ever seen. He’s even gone somewhat viral after Abby dressed him up as Zardog, which was modelled after Sean Connery’s character in Zardoz. (One of Grampa’s nicknames is “Our dog,” which eventually turned into “Zardog,” which inspired the costume.) Grampa spreads happiness to everything and everyone around him all the time, with very little effort. This is why I’ve named him the official face of posicore, a title he is more than entitled to. Here’s what he thinks about the whole situation.

Me: Posicore is kind of a stupid word. Are there any other ways to describe the essence of this movement?

Grampa: I like to think of it as the eternal search for silver linings. They're there if you know where to look.

Me: What does posicore mean to you?

G: Well - I've never been any other way, so to me it's just existing.

Me: Is posicore something you're born into or something you strive towards?

G: I think I have always been this way - a happy guy with lots of love to give to anyone who'll stop for a pat or two. I'm awesome, and it's contagious!

Me: Sometimes it's really hard to be positive all the time. Especially when you're depressed - as I often am. What are some tips to being positive on a more consistent basis?

G: Whenever I feel bad or scared, I go to my happy place — usually under the bed. I feel safe there. I can also look to my mom and dad for reassurance and cuddles. Cuddles always help.

Me: Who in popular culture embodies posicore? Drew Barrymore, Taylor Swift, Andrew WK and Matt and Kim all come to mind.

G: Hmmm.... Lassie? She always knew what to do. Forgetting the douche factor, Ashton Kutcher always seems like he's having a good time. Also, Snooki from Jersey Shore. She can get clocked by a juicehead and still party all night.

Me: How does it feel to now be the face of the posicore movement? That's huge! Are you honoured? Nervous?

G: I am more than happy to fulfill that job. Dogs can have jobs, you know.

Me: Is there a downside to being the face of posicore?

G: It can be difficult to be taken seriously. With a face like this, it can be hard to move past how cute I am.

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Visit www.eliannalev.com or email noneandonly@gmail.com to show Elianna some posicore love. And be sure to subscribe to her podcast, the People's Program Project, right here http://tinyurl.com/d6n8py