I’ve been in pursuit of cool for as long as I can remember. My earliest memory comes from third grade when my fellow classmate, Candace, was giving ‘cool marks’ to all the girls who qualified. Unsurprisingly, I did not pass the test and was caught in the bathroom trying to give the mark to myself.
In hindsight, Candace was a tiny bit of a bully to me and was likely just creating a scenario of allegiance to her at my expense.
Although the marker tattoo of third grade was petty. Sometimes it feels like I’ve spent the last 25 years wearing my pretend cool mark hoping the girls with the Official Mark don’t notice.
That all started to change when I clarified my own authenticity and what I valued.
Weirdly, when I leaned in to who I am without all the shape-shifting, without the mark wearing, without the pretending, I started to feel like maybe I am cool?? Yes! I am! Because being yourself is how to be cool.
A Cool Playbook for those who need specifics.
Cool as authenticity.
The secret playbook for cool does not exist. The secret playbook is turning inward and unearthing the unique combination of interests and personality traits that only you have. It’s living into your values. It’s letting your freak flag fly.
