As I grow older, as I accept myself more, I realize that having no empathy isn’t cool. Ignoring people isn’t cool. Ditching someone for the sake of it isn’t cool. Suppressing your feelings and refusing to say what you really mean isn’t cool.
Then what is cool?
Understanding that people struggle. Accepting that people can change overnight, not just over years. Fixing relationships with your friends is cooler than letting them rot. Saying exactly what you feel with no games, no hints, no sarcasm.
That’s maturity. Letting the truth stand naked, even if it hurts, is the real strength.
Lately I’ve started sharing everything I feel on social media, because for a long time I didn’t. I used to hold back, afraid to put out what I think, what hurts me, and where I feel vulnerable. What feels immature to me now is not choosing what to say before I say it.
If I truly choose silence, then I will. But if I stay silent just to look cool, that’s kids’ games.