Thank you for the kind words, Hossein. Your comments mean a lot to me. I am both doing my best and having a great time. I am very glad my writing is helpful to you.
I don't think cool and authenticity are mutually exclusive. There are people who have a natural easy-going personality. And if they are seen as cool, no problems.
I would say two things I'd advocate:
1. Stay true to yourself. If you are naturally easy-going, be that. Don't pretend to be someone whom you are not.
2. No matter what your personality is, care about something - a cause, art, something. The people who are completely carefree are not cool. They are just lost.
I love this! I am so not cool (as I often choke on my own laughter as well) and I am totally ok with it. Like you, I have learned to embrace it and make it my superpower!
The people who 1. know themselves 2. accept who they are 3. want to be better in area they truly care about, are the people who thrive in the long-term.
Hi Jia! I loved this article. I'm a freshman in college, and am right now planning my summer. I have professional plans that I plan to pursue, but I'm really interested in the idea of adding to my "life" resume and going on crazy adventures, taking big risks... What would you say are some of the most embarrassing/rewarding experiences you have taken on within a 1-3 month window that have changed your life?
Yes! Splits in your underwear! I was always jealous of the cool kids. I wrote a scathing article about their matching neon sweatshirts that said (I don't remember), but basically," We're sorry you're not as cool as us". Writing that I can still feel my anger at not being cool. That didn't come from outside of me. It came from inside of me. I'm the one that feels EVerything. I can put myself in EVeryone's shoes. And I use this to serve others, and discover the best of myself. I am my own James Bond.
I appreciate your cool articles that are inspiring as well as practical! (it's not easy to keep both features at the same time)
Thank you for the kind words, Hossein. Your comments mean a lot to me. I am both doing my best and having a great time. I am very glad my writing is helpful to you.
Thanks got sharing your writing and your totally cool/not cool Jia voice. 🙏 Not cool over here. Which is actually super cool. Much love!
Thank you Carin. But love to you too!
Perhaps this reveals my true “not cool” identity, but in reading this I wonder if being cool is most often mutually exclusive with being authentic?
I don't think cool and authenticity are mutually exclusive. There are people who have a natural easy-going personality. And if they are seen as cool, no problems.
I would say two things I'd advocate:
1. Stay true to yourself. If you are naturally easy-going, be that. Don't pretend to be someone whom you are not.
2. No matter what your personality is, care about something - a cause, art, something. The people who are completely carefree are not cool. They are just lost.
I love this! I am so not cool (as I often choke on my own laughter as well) and I am totally ok with it. Like you, I have learned to embrace it and make it my superpower!
The people who 1. know themselves 2. accept who they are 3. want to be better in area they truly care about, are the people who thrive in the long-term.
Hi Jia! I loved this article. I'm a freshman in college, and am right now planning my summer. I have professional plans that I plan to pursue, but I'm really interested in the idea of adding to my "life" resume and going on crazy adventures, taking big risks... What would you say are some of the most embarrassing/rewarding experiences you have taken on within a 1-3 month window that have changed your life?
Yes! Splits in your underwear! I was always jealous of the cool kids. I wrote a scathing article about their matching neon sweatshirts that said (I don't remember), but basically," We're sorry you're not as cool as us". Writing that I can still feel my anger at not being cool. That didn't come from outside of me. It came from inside of me. I'm the one that feels EVerything. I can put myself in EVeryone's shoes. And I use this to serve others, and discover the best of myself. I am my own James Bond.
Yes 👍🏽