Do you remember back in high school how it was somehow “cool” not to care
There were always a few kids who made sure you knew they were “too cool for school.” They wouldn’t get excited about much of anything—sports, clubs, academics, even friendships. It was like showing genuine passion for something made you an outsider. And if we’re being honest, maybe some of us bought into that mindset more than we’d like to admit.
The funny thing is—I still see that same dynamic play out in adults. Somewhere along the way, caring deeply about something became something people felt they had to apologize for.
In the workplace, people who show real enthusiasm or take pride in their work are sometimes labeled as “overachievers” or “brown-nosers.”
In relationships, there’s that old line: “He who cares the least wins.” What a strange message we’ve absorbed: if you care too much, you lose.
I get it. It's risky to lay it all on the line. To put both feet in. To really care about the results.
But the truth is—I think we miss out when we don't.
Whether it’s my relationship with my son or my wife, a project at work, the nonprofit I serve alongside, or even a hobby I enjoy—I want to be fully invested. I want to show up. I want to feel the full range of emotions that come with caring deeply—because that’s where the good stuff is.
The alternative? Coasting. Numbing. Settling. And I don’t think that’s the life any of us want to look back on.
So maybe it’s time we change the narrative. Maybe it’s time we remind ourselves—and our kids—that it’s cool to care. About your family. About your work. About your community. About your passions.
Because when we care, we bring our full selves to the table. And when we bring our full selves, we create something better—richer relationships, deeper purpose, and lives that actually matter.
So here’s my challenge for this week:
What’s one area where you’ve been holding back—and it’s time to lean in and care more?
Let’s stop playing it cool. Let’s care deeply. Because the best things in life are found right there.