Masking/ being cool is over rated

Being “cool” is one of the most vapid compliments I can imagine.I’ve watched people spend years compromising who they really are just to be seen as cool. The irony is that the harder you try to be cool, the less authentic you become. And authenticity is far more interesting than image.When you build your identity around being cool, you attract people who are drawn to the performance instead of the person. I don’t want friends because of status, reputation, or aesthetics. I want people who would still be there if none of that existed.Being cool doesn’t mean you’re kind. It doesn’t mean you’re courageous. It doesn’t mean you have integrity. It usually just means you’ve successfully fit into a box. It might not be the mainstream box, but it’s still a box.I’d rather be uncool and deeply human than cool and disconnected from myself.To me, “cool” has no depth. It’s surface. It’s another mask to hide behind. And I’ve learned that masks are heavy. They’re exhausting. They’re painful to wear.So I don’t chase cool. I run from it.I’d rather be authentic, awkward when necessary, passionate, curious, compassionate, and real. Those things won’t always make you popular, but they’ll help you build a life filled with genuine relationships instead of carefully curated impressions.In the end, authenticity lasts. Cool goes out of style.