Nope, not Yolo County, our not so distant neighbor to the east.I'm referring to an expression that you may have overheard when passing a college campus, or spotted as your teenaged nephew was texting a friend.
Yolo stands for You Only Live Once, and is oftentimes used to ignore possible consequences. That dangerous voyage through the Amazon rainforest? Gotta do it, after all, Yolo. Eat an oversized piece of (admittedly delicious) chocolate cake (or babka)? Yolo. Party until all hours on the night before an exam? Yolo.
But there's another way of using this curious expression.
This is your moment to shine. You are here for a reason. Someone believes in you, and you are the only one who can get the job done. You have a unique contribution to bring to the world. And now is the time to do it. After all, YOLO - You Only Live Once.
So as the High Holidays are approaching (only 2 weeks away - Reserve your seats to services and Rosh Hashanah dinner!), pause for a moment to reflect on the Must Do's on your list. Making time for the people you love? Yolo. Doing an act of kindness for someone you need? Yolo. Making your corner of the world shine brighter? Yolo.