The searching, openness, magic and attention it takes to find what you love is so fun, serendipitous and rewarding. The word of mouth, the overheard song, the opening band, how one thing you love is connected to another, how one author you like talks about an author he likes, how through these things we continually decide, I am this and this and this. Though I no longer need the lifeline in exactly the same way I did when I was younger, I still feel the richness and delight of each discovery and how they make the world seem like an astonishing place brimming with expression, excitement and a ton of stuff worth adding to my cool list. I found that thrilling and inspiring at age 14 and I still do. I sat down recently to write my 40-year- old self a letter and I have a feeling she’ll agree.

The Bell JarThe Bell Jar

The Cool List: What You Love at 14 and What You Love at 34