YOLO.

The new slang word YOLO means "You only live once..." And while I am all for living each day to its fullest and making the best of your life, I can't help but wonder if people are using this term the wrong way. Youth are impressionable and pay attention to the media and are always looking for the new "it" thing to do or say. While I don't exactly hang out with today's youth, I do come in contact with youth & try to keep up on the trends or keep an eye out for what is really going on in high schools, peer groups, and so forth... Is saying "YOLO" a way to use peer pressure? If one teen offers another teen a cigarette, drugs, or alcohol and says "YOLO: You Only Live Once"...does it mean to forget all the rules and whether things are good or bad...and just do it because you think everyone else is or you think it is the cool thing to do. People do enjoy doing crazy or stupid things from time to time...but since we only live once, shouldn't we still be cautious and careful with the ONE life we have? I don't mean overly cautious and careful about every little thing. And it is not my job to dictate how people use their slang, but it takes a while for some people to gain the wisdom to make good choices. With today's youth, we see kids getting into things way more rapidly and thinking that there are not consequences to their actions. But they are not invincible...and sometimes the things we do today, we pay for tomorrow. Stay strong enough to say "no" and live your life according to your own goals and your own preferences. Don't do something just to impress the whims of others...anyone will use you or test just how far you are willing to go. Instead go the distance for yourself and in the end you will be thankful.