YOLO - the phrase literally everyone and their mothers were saying around the midd 2000's and into the early 2010's. It was used before then and it has been used after but of course that period is when it was most "overused" as some might say.
Personally I love the phrase, I love not necessarily saying "YOLO" out loud as slang but thinking it all the time in my head as a way of life motto.
With so many different people in this world, it is hard to categorize anybody into one or two topics, however, I think this phrase does it quite easily depending on how you see life.
There are 2 types of people in this world. The type that risk things and are ready to face the outcomes no matter what. AND the type that is overly worried about the consequences and misses out on opportunities because of it.
YOLO was my Motto all through my high school days. I know it sounds cliche but I was always doing things above and beyond on adventures and tasks.
When I traveled Europe in 2012, EVERY time we decided to sneak out at night to go eat pizza or climb on to each others balcony so we could party in one room instead of another and stay up until the sun came up, the only thought going through my head was "I only live once, I have to have fun, I have to do things that I can look back on and be grateful I took the chance". It was worth it too. I did things I am still amazed at. I pull strength from this quote because it makes me challenge myself into things that the sane me would never do because of the consequences.
When I served a mission in Mexico in 2014, I allowed someone to convince me that I would live if I conquered my fear and went into the ocean passed my feet. Again, I thought to myself, "I will regret this if I don't try. I only live once, I can take the risk". And I did it. I walked all the way in past my waist. (I haven't done it since because I still fear the ocean, but its the principle I'm talking about here).
When I got into college and was living on my own for the first time, and friends wanted to go out and have good times on my school nights, I would think to myself "Are you really going to go through life as a prude? Let yourself have a little fun, you only love once".
I literally love this motto/phrase. It has been my lifestyle of choices for so long now that its just naturally how I think.
However, as I mature more and more, I realize how the other side of the YOLO thinkers can think so pessimistically. The people that overly worried about the consequences and miss out on opportunities because of their worry. I get it now. They fear the idea of pain, breakage, death even when contemplating something risky or fun. They think to themselves, "I only live once, am I really going to be dumb and jump off the cliff into the ocean, what id there is a shark and it eats me and I risked this to die?"
I get it, you worry about safety and actually coming out alive after. I get it, you worry what the money sacrifices of your choices will do to you financially. I have had these worries as I mature and I totally get it. Its hard to just say "fuck it, YOLO" and risk everything when you know that their are consequences you cannot ignore.
So as I mature, I have had to combine both this types of people/thoughts into one "YOLO" train of thought.
"Hey, lets go to SLO this weekend and shop around and have fun!!" -says friend
in my head ->>Okay well I have been to SLO like 80 times before and I don't really have money to spend because if I spend it I can't pay my rent. Maybe I shouldn't go just because there is nothing new about it, it would be fun but I need to think about the other aspects.
"You know what, I would love to get away and shop and see the ocean, but honestly I can't right now, I don't have money and I need to focus on my school work this weekend. What about like after finals we plan something?" -says me to my friend
Basically, I can make fun times and risk a lot in the right circumstances, I thought it out thoroughly. I looked at every angle and made the best decision for my circumstances. However, I didn't turn it down completely. Because yes, I only live once and this weekend I may not have the money to go out and shop around or play in the ocean, but that doest mean I should deny myself the pleasure. So why not plan ahead? save the money and fins the time. Don't turn down the opportunities that make life worth living, just adjust them to fit you means and circumstances.
There is balance in the phrase. Once you find it, you will be happy in your choices and adventures. Because YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE. Don't regret choices you didn't like or chances you didn't take. Don't do things to please others, because its your life, you only need to please you.
