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YOYOLOO

(You Only YOLO Once)

By Matty LongPublished 4 years ago 5 min read
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My last article was about what I think the meaning of life is. I'd recommend reading that before this one, because I see this as sort of a follow-up and an effort to clear up some seeming irregularities in my opinions. I basically said that the meaning of life is to enjoy it, do whatever you want to do, and don't overwork yourself mentally or physically because you feel like that is the right thing to do. However, when describing my lot and the things I enjoy, I said that I'm not a fan of YOLO culture, and that might be considered to be at odds with my entire point. But I intend to explain what I mean by this, and delve deeper into my thoughts about the meaning of life, in this follow-up.

So, to clarify, when I think of YOLO culture, I don't think of people who share my opinion that you should enjoy life and not overwork yourself, for that I prefer to use the archaic "carpe diem." "YOLO" is certainly a newer phrase, but I think the kind of people who live their life by it have always existed, alongside people like me. Now, the definitions I may give for these two types of people may not be everyone's definitions, but it's just the way I see it. I'm going to be broad and of course people aren't as clearly divided as I'm going to make out here, but that is the case with all sorts of psychological methods of dividing people. We all have a bit of both but it still makes sense to talk about these divisions. Think introversion and extroversion, for example. So, to describe the way I see the world, let's take two young men, for example, who are largely interested in the same things. But there are notable differences in the way they are interested in these things. One likes playing sports, because he's a brilliant athlete and he gets a thrill out of it. The other prefers watching sports, because he isn't so brilliant an athlete but is fascinated by the thrill he gets from the culture of the games. One likes playing music or dancing for the same reason, as he is skilled at it and he likes to make it his own, where as the other prefers listening to music, thinking about the lyrics and what they mean. Politically, one may vote for what suits him now, the other may think about the future. When buying a car, one might look at the speed, the other the longevity. The list goes on.

Now I'm at risk of coming across as narrow-minded, and like I say, people aren't as clear cut as this. But I think what I'm really trying to say is that, certainly when young, there are people who live their lives through action, and those who lives their lives through thought. Calling them extroverts and introverts is related, I would say, but isn't quite the same (there are plenty of Premier league footballers and rock stars, I know, who are very introverted). And let me stress that I, despite clearly not belonging to the group, have no issue with those who live their lives through action. What I do have issue with, however, is when people like that look at people who live their lives through thought and tell them they're doing it wrong. It doesn't offend me, rather it's just something I disagree with, because I find that, in the long run, the latter approach to life is more fulfilling. Now, that isn't the same as when I tell people who are overworking and not enjoying their life that they're doing life wrong, because we who live through thought don't do so as an investment, we do it because that is who we are.

There's an old Google image that exists in various forms, but the one I think fits what I'm going to say most is the one below. The first man I would say, could be the man of action, and is happy. The third, I would say, is a man of thought, who sees a happiness and meaning beyond even that. The man in the middle, however, in my (obviously very specific...) interpretation of the image, is the man of action who was ignorant to the man of thought. For he has grown up and with age has become the man of thought but by now it is too late for him to appreciate it fully.

A better way of putting it, perhaps, is thinking again about footballers and musicians. Some footballers, after living their best high in their youth as men of action, grow up and invest and become successful managers or pundits. But, tragically, some who can't face the fact that the high of their heyday can't be fully replaced, turn desolate. Think of great players like George Best or Paul Gascoigne. And the list of rock stars who go through the same thing is endless, where as others keep going well into their old age, finding what must obviously be a balance. I don't imagine the Rolling Stones still bring a doctor with them on tour just because of all the drugs they do (they used to do that).

Now, people like George Best who pass away prematurely may be seen as extremes of the phrase "You Only YOLO Once" and indeed the media will often cite cases of people who lived their life by the phrase and died young. But that isn't really what I mean by it.

What I mean, I guess, is that the people who live their lives through action won't always be able to live their life like that. The body ages quicker than the mind, and one day you will have to do the things you love in a different way. Again, never would I suggest that there is anything wrong with the way people enjoy their lives, just don't be so cynical that others are not living theirs to the full, because one day you may realise that they are, just in a different way that takes a longer time.

psychology
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About the Creator

Matty Long

Jack of all trades, master of watching movies. Also particularly fond of tea, pizza, country music, watching football, and travelling.

X: @eardstapa_

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