Boards
I’m not sure whether we should love or hate Drake for bringing the concept of YOLO (you only live once) into the foreground of our lives. Yes, Drizzy, you do indeed only live once (unless you’re a Buddhist but that’s a whole ‘nother story) but YOLO can’t really be an excuse to make the dumbest choices possible, all in the name of living for the moment.
I’ll admit it: there have been a few times when I’ve thought “Ah to heck with it—YOLO!” when confronted with a choice to either play it safe (and usually, smarter) or go take a chance. And, um, it doesn’t always turn out well. Read on to see 10 times when the YOLO mentality is a seriously big mistake.
1. Blowing Off Something Important
From work to a test to lunch with your Grandma, you’re only hurting yourself with a “screw it!” mentality. Unless you have a seriously once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (as in, “Hey Harry Styles is at my house and wants to make out with you!”) don’t blindly leap away from your responsibilities. Except when it’s in the direction of Harry’s lips.
2. Cutting Off Your Hair
As a lifelong devotee of long locks, I am staunchly opposed to shearing off one’s hair. I did it once and looked like a boy. Well no, more specifically I looked like a Hitler Youth because I’m so blonde and so Swedish looking. A moment of “F it, let’s go for it!” can have seriously long-lasting consequences. And hair isn’t always the worst of it!
3. Having Sex
Hangovers fade, credit card bills are eventually paid off (hopefully) but sleeping with someone before you’re ready isn’t something you can undo. You can wreck a blossoming relationship, ruin your rep, and duh, expose yourself to creepy things like babies and herpes. Wait it out—remember, the definition of pleasure is not getting what you want right away!
4. Binge Drinking
If you follow me on Instagram (which you should, @ShallonXO) then you saw the pic of me taking shots with friends last week. We literally shouted YOLO before downing two tequila shooters in a row. The next morning, however, we were all shouting something very different. More like “WTF” and “I want to die.” Getting’ cray isn’t that awesome when you know it’s going to have some seriously sucky consequences.
5. Eating Everything in Sight
Life being short and singular is all the more reason to look and feel your best. Do you really want to spend your time on Earth with your face buried in a trough of unhealthy eats?
6. Pulling Stupid Stunts
YOLO was the last thing my friend Jen said before she jumped into a pool and broke her ankle. She was too excited to show off to notice that she was diving into the shallow end. So much fail.
7. Blowing All Your Money
YOLO! I shrieked to myself when I booked a plane ticket to Vegas last week. That is, booked another ticket to Vegas. I’m going two weekends in a row. To Vegas. No, I’m not a stripper, a degenerate gambler or anything else that might justify going to Sin City twice in 10 days. I just have very persuasive friends. And now, credit card debt. Weeee!
8. Doing Drugs
That one life you get to live? Yeah, it might be over a whole lot quicker if you start shoving stuff up your nose or down your throat. If you need substances to feel like you’re getting the most out of life, take a step back and reevaluate why you feel bored or empty. Getting to the root of something is the easiest way to change it!
9. Getting Married
Miley Cyrus tells Marie Claire magazine that life is too short not to spend it with the person you love. Miley honey, life is short…but it feels a whole lot longer when you’re going through a very public, very nasty, very inevitable divorce!
10. Getting a Tattoo
You only live once, why spend it regretting that god-awful dolphin-jumping-over-a-rainbow on your shoulder?
How often do you throw up your hands and say, “YOLO?” What do you think you should do because you only live once? Tell me in the comments!
Here’s Something YOLO Is NOT A Good Excuse For!
Haha this girl at my school wore a shirt that said yolo on it haha
Why is eating junk food on the list? I love chocolate! I loved it when Drake was Jimmy Brooks! I’m not aimlessly saying YOLO before every sugary/fatty food I eat! I’m just eating it because I’m hungry, and I don’t want to eat a friggin salad an there’s friggin chocolate or cotton candy or soft pretzels right there!
YOLO was out a long time ago. Alot of people are just finding out about it (and overusing it) and made it lame.
I know saying this makes me sound like a total dolt, but it’s rude that you’re assuming that they’ll end up divorcing. I mean, wouldn’t you feel sh*tty if someone said “Wow, you look beautiful. Too bad you’ll be burning the pictures from today like ten years from now.” on your wedding day.
Sould eating be in this list. Unless your on a diet ,its not like I would say YOLO ima eat this buger
so im kinda having a problem with #3… creepy things like babies?? since when are babies creepy?? sorry but i find that a little offensive. and another thing. they’re not “things” they’re humans.. srsly WTF?
Babies are always creepy. Just look at their proportions. Humongous heads with stubby arms and legs. Their hands can’t even reach the tops of their heads since their arms are so short! Lol
Haha, “creepy things like babies…” So babies are creepy now?