Cool

Yesterday while telling a story I managed to use the word “cool” an excessive amount of times. I didn’t actually count, but I’m positive it’s the most I’ve EVER used it in 1 sentence.  I used it to the point that my friend Rachel had a baffled look on her face, not even knowing what I was trying to say anymore.  Now normally this wouldn’t call for a blog post about it…but after realizing I didn’t know the definition of the word hope (see yesterday’s blog), I thought to look up the meaning of the word cool. And, to my surprise, this little 4 letter word has a whole lot of meanings!

Just to give you an idea, here are the multiple definitions of cool according to good ‘ol Merriam-Webster:

1 : moderately cold : lacking in warmth

2 a : marked by steady dispassionate calmness and self-control b : lacking ardor or friendliness c of jazz : marked by restrained emotion and the frequent use of counterpoint d : free from tensions or violence

3 : used as an intensive

4 : marked by deliberate effrontery or lack of due respect or discretion

5 : facilitating or suggesting relief from heat

6 a of a color : producing an impression of being cool; specifically : of a hue in the range violet through blue to green b of a musical tone : relatively lacking in timbre or resonance

7 slang a : very good : excellent; also : all right b : fashionable, hip

WOW! That’s a lot of meanings for such a small word. And it’s such a small word for having such power.

To be cool as in definition #7 is the one that I hear most often and in my opinion holds the most power in today’s society. Starting at a young age we’re aware of who’s cool and then associate what’s cool with who’s cool. I could go on and on about the problems this causes but I think most of us have experience enough that words will never suffice to describe the emotions behind these circumstances. The word cool seems to have it’s own definition in most of our lives.

To me, cool is confidence. Cool is knowing who you are and not letting anyone sway that. Cool is sticking close to who you were created to be.  So what’s cool to you? I’d love to hear

Interested in more on the word cool? Check it out on wikipedia – it’s definitely worth a read!