a practical guide on how to live an interesting life

a practical guide on how to live an interesting life Eggs On Monday to be a cool person you have to do cool things a practical guide on how to live an interesting life Eggs on Monday SARAHPALFIERI.SUBSTACK.COM One of my life mottos is: "to be a cool person you have to do cool things" and I take it really seriously. Some of it has looked glamorous, but most of it has looked quiet. Bungee jumping off of Victoria Falls in Zambia. Taking writing seminars at my local art school. Traveling to Bogota, Colombia with a week's notice. Going to sit- down dinners solo. Hiking The Path of the Gods on the Amalfi coast. Talking to strangers, as often as possible. Learning how to juggle. Becoming a regular at my local coffee shop and stationery store. Meeting strangers from the Internet and leaving with great friends. Enrolling in a certificate program on storytelling from Cornell. Taking my mom on a bucket list trip to NYC. Touring countless museums around the world. Petting every dog possible. Always making funny faces at babies in front of me in the grocery store line. There's a lot of conversation around the "cool girl aesthetic online" - what she looks like, dresses like, and smells like. I think it's missing the point completely. Cool isn't a personality trait or accessory. It's not something you are or are not born with. Cool is a badge of honor that only comes by doing interesting things. Which means... drum roll please... that anyone can be cool! You don't have to be rich. Or extroverted. Or have perfect teeth. Or have a million followers. Or live in a big city. You just have to be willing to get out of your room, your house, and your comfort zone. This will require you to put down the phone and get out of bed. It will require you to talk to people and go to unfamiliar places. It will require you to be inconvenienced for people. But the alternate reality is feeling lost, lonely, and listless. You can't create meaning by rotting your life away. (I haven't heard of any loopholes or special exceptions). Cool looks different on everyone, which is what makes it inherently cool. But I've noticed there are some common themes about all the cool people I've encountered. So here is a very practical, non exhaustive guide to living an interesting life: 1. Cool people are curious. One of the greatest skills you can develop is learning how to ask good questions - in your workplace, to your friends or partner, on the subway, and to yourself. Let yourself be intrigued and enthralled by people and places and things. 2. Cool people are multi-passionate. In world full of "niches", let yourself be interested in countless things. The more you are interested, the more interesting you become. 3. Cool people try. You can't live an interesting life without trying things. Cool people let themselves be bad, and beginners, and sometimes both, while still enjoying the activity. If you can get past the fear of embarrassment or being "cringey", you'll find so much whimsy. 4. Cool people talk to strangers, often. The coolest people I know have the knack for striking up conversations with strangers. In coffee shops or airports or in line at the grocery store. And they're more interesting because of it! 5. Cool people care deeply about their friends. You get cooler by surrounding yourself with intriguing people. Try to make friends with all different kinds of people - from different walks of life, and different places, and different ages. It will make you way more interesting, I promise. If the idea of making friends feels overwhelming, start here: How to build a village SARAH ALFIERI - JUN 13 I've been thinking about community for as long as I can remember. My family moved nearly every year of my childhood - including different continents and countries - and I dreamt of deep friendship. I remember in high school I met people who had been friends since diapers, or first grade at least, and I was deeply jealous. What a sp... Read full story 6. Cool people are well traveled. This does not mean you have to travel to exotic places or have a euro summer to be cool. I recognize that travel is a privilege and luxury. But you can be well traveled in your home town. You can know all the cool local businesses and secret spots. Don't overcomplicate it! But if you do get the chance to go on international adventures, say yes every time. 7. Cool people are welcoming and kind. I've never met a cool person who was rude to strangers or "clique" minded. The cool people I know are the ones who include people that are left out of the conversation and always make room at the table. The cool people I know have a general demeanor of kindness, to everyone. 8. Cool people say "yes" ... a lot. You have to learn how to say yes - before you're ready, before you know all the details, and even if you're scared. Say yes to people, plans, travel, work opportunities, and to yourself. If you're feeling like your life is empty or purposeless, the 8 practices above are a great place to start. You'll notice that nothing on the list talks about having new clothes, or designer handbags, or luxury products. The list doesn't mention living in a particular city or being a certain pant size or owning a house. None of that guarantees an interesting life, just an expensive bill. All you need to start building an interesting life today, is the bravery to try! To be a cool person, you have to do cool things. It's that simple and that hard. What cool things will you try this month? xoxo, SP Subscribe to my Substack for free - link is in my bio or search: Eggs On Monday