Amazing how the world changes in a very short time. It’s amazing how much the world has changed in such a short time. It’s just not real anymore. Every generation wants something different. We all strive to create our own identity and take our own path. It seems like we’re saying that our parents can’t do better. It makes you feel like you’re giving up. The new YOLO attitude is not the best change. The world’s extremes have changed. We have gone from believing citizens were too afraid to speak out to accepting everyone and everything, good or not. YOLO means to be reckless. It’s about doing what one wants and disregarding the consequences. It’s totally opposite of the values and ambitions I had as a young person. In just a few brief years, we find that the concept of living as you wish is being praised by everyone. People are erasing that line which used to distinguish between what was right and wrong, intelligent and foolish, responsible and reckless. Right and wrong are a thing from the past. Many people are now able to justify their careless lifestyles and constant happiness with the new YOLO mindset. They believe that this is a sign that the world will improve. I contend that the YOLO attitude is what’s destroying America’s youth.
Consider when you might hear “You Only live Once”. It’s when you strap your seatbelt in the car before you hit the road because “YOLO!” Do you study all night for college exams to achieve a degree? This phrase isn’t used when people are thinking about their future or life. This phrase is used to justify being stupid. Lazy. Reckless. The phrase is often used to describe someone who has just been given their fourth shot at whiskey while they are at a celebration. You know that you could make some unwise decisions if you let yourself get drunk, but you enjoy it! It’s fun to party! You want to have fun! Who cares if you are in a bad situation? Today is the most important thing in life. Now is the time. Instant gratification is the key. YOLO is all about instant gratification and fun. YOLO, or Y’all Out, is a way to let your responsibilities go, at least temporarily, when you’re having fun. I am not advocating a life of recluse either. It’s important to have fun and enjoy your life, especially while you are young. A good thing is to step out of your comfort zones and go to parties. This is a very admirable act. Most of us are afraid to be ourselves or speak out. I don’t think it’s healthy for you to be isolated and to devote your life to work and study all the while, like the generations before. It is essential to maintain a healthy balance in life. We must respect authority and other people. We should also listen to those more experienced and wiser.
Instead of relying on the wisdom and experience of those who are older, today’s youth rely on TV and the Internet. Miley Cryus is one the most influential celebrity teenagers today. Miley, an actress/singer, is the poster girl for her entire generation. She is a queen at challenging social expectations and norms. I have heard this statement made about many admirable women from history. Amelia Earhart was the 1st woman to fly over the Atlantic, Jane Austen was a writer first and foremost, and she believed in her abilities enough to not let others’ criticisms deter her. Miley is challenging this norm. She challenges working hard and dreaming, then destroying those dreams. Miley Cyrus’ “We Cannot Stop” is a recent music video that sums up the current youth attitude. It’s quite disturbing. She’s basically stating that we should all be allowed to do what we want, and no one should judge us. In one of her songs, she says: “To my homegirls here with the big butt… forget the haters because someone loves you”. God loves us regardless of our actions, but does this mean He condones sins? Does God’s unwavering love for us allow us to indulge in promiscuity and other sins? “Let us be like the days of old, walking properly. We should not indulge in drunkenness or revelry. We shouldn’t engage in lewdness, lust, strife, or envy. The way she dresses and dances, as well as her sexuality, is corrupting girls’ minds. What people say doesn’t really matter. Do what you like, dress the way you like, and say whatever you please. Everything is now socially permissible. Miley says, “It’s your party. Do what you like.”
What is that? What does that even mean? What does the youth want? What do young people want? It’s the result of having fun up until thirty. You’ve lived your entire life without planning ahead and living in the moment. You will soon be thirty, still living with your parents because you did not do the work. But we’re young. We’re just too busy having “fun” for us to give a damn. Nihilism becomes more prevalent in youth culture as time passes. Everyone knows it’s impossible to achieve perfection. Even attempting to achieve greatness requires a lot of effort. It takes hard work, patience, and dedication. It takes work to achieve anything great. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Even though it’s a cliche, this phrase still holds true. What about this new metaphor? When your car’s radiator breaks down, should you just drive it over a cliff and say “Fuck it!” What if you tried to fix the problem as much as possible? A car’s life can be compared to a person. The cost of owning a automobile is high, and it can be frustrating. You can trust me. My old car has been unable to start many times. It was very frustrating. The car was a 1991 Honda Civic in a lovely blue color. It was old, but it did the job (mostly) and I couldn’t ask for more. One time, it stopped in the middle a road. I didn’t understand why. I’ve called my dad many times to pick up my car or help me understand why it was not working. Although my car worked for as long a it could, it eventually broke down and I had no choice but to buy a new one. The body is not something that can be replaced or redone in the event of a breakdown.
While YOLO may be used in the wrong context, it is true that you only live once, at least physically. As a young adult, you get to experience the thrill of being an independent person and make your own decisions. It’s important for young people to think about their future and what they hope to achieve in the next ten or twenty years.
