Yes, You Only Live Once — YOLO

There is Good and Bad YOLO

I don’t know you so I don’t know if you are a smoker, drinker, drug user, or gambler. I don’t know if you suffer from depression, addiction, or another condition. I don’t really know who needs to hear this but I suspect a few of us need at least reminders.

I do know a few things about the idea of You Only Live Once or YOLO. I lived in the capital of YOLO: Miami, FL. I am going to argue that YOLO is a way of thinking, even a lifestyle.

There are some good ways to YOLO and not such good ways to YOLO. First of all, traveling is a great thing to do at any age. Always look for an opportunity to explore a new country or new culture. You will be enriched by meeting new people and you may even change your mind on more than one thing. Trust me, it’s a good thing to do. And then there’s that delicious international food that you would not have otherwise ever learned about. Who can argue with food?

Another good YOLO is getting out and joining meet-ups and learning new hobbies which will also increase your social network. I cannot emphasize how important this is. Many people struggle to grow networks after a certain age. A YOLO mindset can result in lifelong learning which studies have shown helps people maintain a healthy mind and body.

Now let's review some things that are not such good ideas when it comes to YOLO. First, opioids and party drugs. Did you know that you can become addicted to opioids after only taking them five times? New data from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration SAMHSA reveal that most people who become addicted to opioids were either prescribed them after surgery or for pain or were introduced to them by friends or family. I hope most people know how dangerous these things are by now.

Fortunately, there is new money and new treatment for these kinds of addictions but first, you have to realize that you may be addicted. As I walk this path with some friends of mine, they wish they never started. So this is not ta good YOLO.

Some party drugs, like the ones found on the Miami party scene, like synthetic marijuana can have some pretty devastating side effects. Too much ecstasy, a party pill, has been shown to deplete the serotonin in your brain which makes you feel so happy in the moment BUT, in the long run, causes depression because your body cannot make more serotonin. This lack of balance in the brain chemistry can have life-long consequences.

As someone who has had my own share of YOLO experiences, sometimes I wonder how I have survived! But part of me tells me that it’s important to communicate this message to others: if you feel like you need to try something or do something, consider the risks and benefits.

For most things that are experiences or lifelong learning, you are good to go, like jumping out of a plane — with a parachute. However, if it has to do with substances or something very dangerous that you were not prepared to do like I don’t know jumping off a cliff without a parachute, it’s not a good idea, right?

The truth is that you do only live once. Yep, I get it that some of us seem to have “nine lives” like me, BUT most of us don’t. You just never know. If you don’t happen to be that lucky person who has chance after chance, this could be disastrous.

I support you and your journey to explore, grow to learn and make the best life possible. This is also my journey. We survived a pandemic so if you are reading this, I encourage you to go for the good YOLO.

Alayne Unterberger is a feminist, medical anthropologist, nonprofit person, fur mom, and writer. @dralayne

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