I was never “the cool kid,” I remember looking at my friends wishing I had the “Jerry Surplus” jeans. Many of you won’t even know that brand, but back in the 70’s it was so cool to have the big bellbottom jeans that were beyond waist high. I don’t remember my younger years in school much….ok, not at all in all honesty.

I have one memory when I was little where we had to take naps and put our head on our desk waiting for the teacher to tap our head with the magic wake-up wand. If the teacher tapped you on the head or should, that person got to go around and tap everyone else to let them know, nap time was over. I never got to be the child with the wand. Did it ruin me???? Heck no, I was too little to even remember if I was upset, I just remember how cool it was to feel the tap on the head/shoulder knowing I was picked. It didn’t matter if I was last, it was just cool to know I was picked. Of course I was going to be picked sooner or later, but as a child it didn’t matter to me…..just as long as I was picked.

Why do we want to belong and be cool when we get older? Because, most of us feel the need to be accepted and feel as though everyone looks up to us. It’s a cool feeling, to be the cool kid/teen/adult/elder. This “cool” feeling is awesome, as long as you don’t let it go to your head. Being cool is not trying to outshine your friend, be better/smarter than anyone else, have bigger or better, or believe you are above everyone else.

Most people believe the “cool people” are the one who cares about others, don’t try to outdo everyone, and lets that person shine while you cheer them on. Does it really matter if your cool… depends on what you think,”cool” is. Think about it and try not to smile when you think about how “cool” it is just being yourself and showing your coolness in love for others.

I write this because I use to believe I had to “out do” the next person to “fit in.” I believed that I wouldn’t be cool if I didn’t have what others had, or do what others do. Guess what??? People love you for who you are if you are kind and caring. We don’t have to be cool to believe in ourselves or feel liked/loved by others. Having a heart that loves and gives is what is cool and this coolness is something we all need to believe in.

Trust the Journey,

Alexis