This is highly recommended, a series where I provide a compelling argument for why you should like something that I like.

Dear Reader,

I remember that afternoon more clearly than I remember most afternoons. It was grey. But not just because of the clouds – it was one of those days where everything seemed to be covered in a thin layer of bleh. It was around 2:30 and I was walking across the (so-called) iconic quad at the University of Missouri-Columbia with Austin. (What I don’t remember is what we were walking to or from. But if I had to guess, it was probably related to skipping Geology 1000. (Listen, I don’t have any problems with rocks. And exploring the layers of the Earth can be mildly interesting. But you better fucking believe I’m not going to sit in a stuffy lecture hall for three hours a week and listen to someone drone on about rocks. I have better things to do, like blog.) At the very least, it probably had something to do with ignoring what little responsibility we had at age 19.)

We were walking past a building that was under construction (isn’t every building on a college campus under construction?) with workers perched on the scaffolding outside. As we walked by, one called out to me: “Why the hell are you wearing sunglasses? It’s not sunny outside!”

I responded like every red blooded, 19 year old male would respond: I cowered and ignored him. Austin laughed. Because minutes earlier, he had also complained about my decision to wear sunglasses on an incredibly overcast day. I didn’t care what he or the construction worker thought. I still don’t.

I highly recommend wearing sunglasses.

Why?

Eye Protection

It’s what sunglasses were made for. And even with all of the other benefits, it’s still the intended one that makes it to the top of the list. You probably already take precautions in many other areas of your life. So why wouldn’t you want to protect the one thing (technically two things I guess) that helps you read your favorite blog? I don’t think you want to imagine what life would be like with this highly recommended content. (Maybe I should develop an audio version of highly recommended for my fans in the visually impaired community. Should this just be a podcast instead of a blog? Am I behind the times because I’m writing a blog instead of recording a podcast? Or am I bringing back an old school trend by revitalizing writing?) Protecting those peepers is important. (I don’t feel great about that sentence, but I’m going to leave it. Transparency, baby!)

Opportunity To Accessorize

Sometimes the most basic fits are the best. But adding a few accessories – a pinky ring here, a watch there – can take basic to the next level. And sunglasses are a very easy place to accessorize without doing anything crazy. I’m not opposed to doing anything crazy, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it either.

Ability To Nap Without Anyone Knowing

Naps are necessary. Unfortunately, naps aren’t necessarily accepted in a business setting. (Total bullshit.) Fortunately for myself, I’ve already cultivated a workplace persona that involves sitting in one comfortable place without moving for long periods of time, which is as close to napping as you can get without actually sleeping. Now that my general lethargy has been established with my coworkers, I can slap on a pair of sunglasses, close my eyes and take the express train to nap town without anyone knowing. Yes, my coworkers might question why I’m wearing sunglasses inside. But that’s not my problem. My problem is trying to nap with all of the noise my coworkers are making while quote unquote doing their jobs.

Looking Cool

Here is the list of things that make you look cool

• cigarettes

• motorcycles

• tattoos

• beards

• motorcycles

• muscles

Looking Really Cool

But when you wear sunglasses with anything on the list above, you look really cool.  

There’s got to be one thing you don’t like about wearing sunglasses.

Hard To See

All of that eye protection and general cool-ness comes at a cost – I can’t exactly see everything that I need to see. Not that I need to see a whole lot, (I won’t go into all of this here, but I’ve gotten pretty good at moving around in complete darkness. It’s a useful skill.) but it’s pretty helpful to be aware of what’s in front of you. I would recommend that, just not highly.

Some weaker individuals might have responded to the construction worker incident by refusing to wear sunglasses ever again. But not me. I double down in the face of any criticism. I’ve started wearing sunglasses in situations where someone should absolutely never wear sunglasses: the movie theater, sleeping, going on a long walk in the middle of the night, while already wearing sunglasses (sometimes you just need two pairs) and when people have told me “can you please take off your sunglasses”.

There may soon come a day where I start wearing sunglasses and never take them off. My only fear is that I will look too cool. That is something I might never recover from.

love,

nicholas