When Megan Thee Stallion proclaimed the summer of 2019 a “hot girl summer,” we had no choice but to agree. Her demand was simple: for her fans, and other “hot girls” around the world, to enjoy their summer to the best of their abilities. Whether it’s being “unapologetically [themselves], just having a good-a** time, hyping up their friends, [or] doing you,” Megan wants people to experience the summer to the best of their abilities.

The summer is a difficult time for a lot of people, me included. While it’s a well-deserved break from the reality of the school year and other parts of life, it’s also a draining and lonely time. It’s hard sometimes to see how we’re supposed to be having a hot girl summer in between 40-hour workweeks, rent checks, and missing friends who are away. But a hot girl summer is more than that.

It’s an excuse to live your summer intentionally. Instead of letting it slip by because it is hard, hot girl summer means navigating the troubles and putting forth positive intentions. It’s not unrealistic — it’s just a mantra to try to live to which according. It’s just three words, but maybe it does some good to put that good energy into your actions and your environment, even if you can’t fully believe it.

Megan wants us to be the baddest girl in town, and that’s neither restrictive nor gender exclusive. All people deserve to have their hot girl summer, and that includes all the not-so-fun parts as much as the fun ones. Take what you can get, and make the best of it. That’s a hot girl summer.