Cool
I can’t remember when I first heard the word “cool,” but I can tell you that I’m 100% certain that I needed no explanation as to its meaning. The term is and has always been completely self-explanatory. We all know what it means, and it has for all practical purposes become the ultimate stamp of approval.
Whether we want to admit it or not, we would all like to be thought of as cool, and although many strive to achieve it, few actually do. It’s just too hard, and that’s doubly true if you have children. It just seems like the minute you become a parent, those kids start sucking the cool right out of you. If you never had any cool to begin with, you’re sunk. You can go out wearing the most amazingly awesome outfits and sunglasses money can buy, but if you’ve got a baby on one hip, a diaper bag in the other hand, and strained carrot stains on your blouse; they won’t make a particle of difference.
Even very small children are hyper aware of what is cool and what isn’t. Once during my time as a school counselor, I needed to speak with a little boy in one of the kindergarten classes. When I went to get him, he jumped up from his seat and ran to his cubby. He reappeared quickly sporting a hat with a team logo on it. I told him that I loved it, but that no one was allowed to wear hats in the building. He then said, “But I want to look cooool!” He looked at me pleadingly, but finally relented and went to put the hat away. When he came back I looked him up and down and said, “You know what? I really gotta say that you look very cool indeed even without that hat.” That’s all it took to make him smile. There was no greater compliment.
Eventually that little boy probably figured out that when it comes to cool, you either have it or you don’t. I think the rule of thumb is this. If you’re trying to be cool, you’re probably not. If you’re thinking to yourself, “Gosh darn it! I know I can become cool if I just try a little harder,”you really can’t. People who are truly cool, just are. They don’t have to try. So if you’re working overtime at being cool, let it go. Don’t sweat it. In any case, I doubt it’s what it’s cracked up to be. The world is full of uncool people who are perfectly happy. Don’t waste your time. Odds are you’re not going to get there anyway.