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Nov

2021

You Only Live Once So Make It Count

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Do you often use the phrase “You only live once!” or YOLO? The phrase “You only live once!” is often used in association with trying or doing something risky. In the positive sense, it means to enjoy the present moment and to live life to the fullest. On the other hand, some people use the same phrase to mean embracing risky behavior or even dangerous behavior.

YOLO is a popular expression among the younger generation and it is quite overused and misused. It has applied to petty decisions instead of to major, life-changing decisions. Some people use the phrase mostly as an expression of their willingness to try out something new and fun. What does this phrase mean for you?

YOLO, you only live once
The battle cry of a generation
This life is a precious gift
So don’t get too crazy
It’s not worth the risk
Yeah
Lonely Island feat. Adam Levine and Kendrick Lamarr – YOLO

The phrase is close in meaning to “carpe diem”, a Latin phrase meaning “seize the day.” It means to grab opportunities when they come because it may not come again. It also implies that opportunities are fleeting and that life is ever changing; so you should take whatever opportunities are presented to you each day. In this context, it implies that one should have the courage to try something out, to take some risks, because it is there for you to take. However, this does not mean that you should take risks just because the chance presented itself. You should never take risks without considering the consequences.

Is it worth the risk?

A prerequisite of taking chances or risks; is to first validate that they are opportunities worth grabbing or risks worth taking. This will of course depend on what your mindset and outlook in life is. Needless to say, you should grab only the opportunities and take the risks that could be beneficial to you at this time or at some point in time. This may seem like a selfish approach, but it is also a safer method.

Some of the risks you take may be because you want to try something new; or because you want to overcome your fear. On a serious note; you might choose to take a risk in order to change your current circumstances. Each person has their own decision-making process; their own considerations to weigh. However, everyone who decides to take a risk must has the courage to take the challenge.

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.
Mae West

Do you have the courage?

Rewards are not always guaranteed when you take risks. Thus, those who take risks should be brave enough to suffer the consequences of failure and learn the lesson. All of us are willing to take risks not just for ourselves but for our loved ones too. Some risks become fun memories or inspiring stories when we look back at them, even if we ended up failing. While others put their everything on the line and end up enjoying the rewards of their risks. Whatever type of risk you take; you should have the courage to see it through to the end, whether you end up failing or victorious.

Do you understand the risk?

We often think: you only live once so take the chance and luck may smile at you. Those who get rewarded for taking risks are not always the lucky ones. Most of them worked hard in different areas of their lives. They continued to learn and practice what they needed to and they maintained good relationships with their colleagues. They made a habit of honing their skills and kept kept believing in themselves and their goals. As a result, they were well-informed and ready to make the best choice when it came to making the risky decision. If it’s clear to you what you can lose and what you can gain; then you know whether to take the risk or not.

Feature Image: Original Photo by nine koepfer on Unsplash.

Nov

2021

No Need to Follow Fashion Trends

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Are you someone who always wants to be with the “in” crowd? Are you always on the look out for what’s new in fashion? Do you fear being left out-of-style? The desire to be always in style with the people around you can be bad for you if it has become an unhealthy obsession. Being in-style maybe a sign that you are trying to keep up with what is considered beautiful. Fortunately, our concept of what is beautiful has transcended just physical appearance. Fashion concepts have also been influenced by this development. Here are some reasons why there is no need to follow fashion trends.

Trends Come and Go

Fashion trends always come and go. Most trends are short-lived. Some may even serve merely as a marketing tool so they have a definite duration. Some fashion pieces are produced as limited edition items. So if you and your friends keep following every fashion trend out there, pretty soon you will have accumulated a lot of clothes and accessories that you can’t use. In the end, you might have to spend more time decluttering your wardrobe than wearing anything in it. Having a fashion classic, such as a little black dress in your closet, is a better option than a whole closet of quick fashion pieces.

Major Money Leak

Having to purchase whatever is fashionable also means that you are creating a major money leak for yourself. With the number of fashion trends cropping up each month; no one will ever be able to buy all of them. You will also not have enough occasions to wear them to. You will just end up living beyond your means. Unless you are a celebrity, wearing an item only once is quite a waste of money. Chasing after fashion trends will not only ruin your budget but maybe your work and social schedules too. If you want to look chic and elegant; there are ways to look expensive on a budget.

You Lose Your Self

Being on-trend means that you don’t develop your own sense of style. Everyone has a fashion sense; whether it be comfy, utilitarian or you just love statement shirts or flower patterns. Maybe you have a collection of vintage belts or scarves that you haven’t worn yet because they are not in style. These are valuable items not just because they are classic fashion pieces but also because of their sentimental value. When you keep following fashion trends; you lose your own personal style.

Don’t be a slave to fashion. Chasing fashion trends is like trying to keep up with the Joneses. Yes, you only live once so go ahead and experiment for fun; but do so in a sensible way. Fashion should be an extension of your self expression. You should develop your own personal style. Your own style not only allows you to express your sense of fashion; it also makes you more memorable to the people you engage with. Remember that when you dress different, you think different. Having your own sense of style also means you can use the clothes you are comfortable wearing. If you have a closetful of vintage items that you would love to use; then create your own style and wear it proudly. Start with some basic closet must-haves and then work your way from there.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Tamara Bellis on Unsplash.

Nov

2021

What is Considered Beautiful?

Reading Time: 3 minutes

What is considered beautiful? There is no, one answer to this. Different cultures have different concepts and standards of beauty. In terms of personal beauty; the definition has changed with time. The good news is, we have accepted beauty beyond what we see on magazine covers and the models they use in these photos. Despite our differences, we do have a universal concept of what is beautiful all around us.

Nature’s Beauty

The beauty of nature is undeniable. We all know the pleasure of just watching the waves come and go on the shore; the pleasant warmth of the sun rise as we welcome the day; the nostalgic vibe of a sunset; and the alluring mystery of watching the night sky with its numerous stars. We always watch in awe at these wonders.

Artists have depicted nature’s beauty in its different phases. The coldness and tranquility of winter; the refreshing growth of spring; the warm and busy summer; and the calm, nostalgic autumn. We even have different ways to celebrate the coming and going of these phases. This is also why we are sometimes compelled to stop and smell the flowers, or take pictures.

In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.
– Aristotle

The Beauty of Life

Just like the coming and going of nature’s phases, we also recognize beauty in the different phases of our life’s journey. We celebrate both birth and death. We have our own rituals to recognize victory and defeat. Those we recognize as leaders and heroes, we confer with recognition; and the losers are given encouragement or are punished, accordingly. We know the beauty of having and maintaining good relationships. Although we become sad during tragedies; we also see the beauty of the human spirit to help others, to survive despite the odds, and to move on despite the setback.

The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.
– Helen Keller

The Beauty of Things

Material things also have their own allure. We usually consider shiny and cute things as beautiful to look at but also to have for ourselves. That is why we are in awe of fluffy toys and cute pets, pretty accessories and trinkets, just as much as we are of a shiny, new car. We collect things because we find them beautiful and attractive in some way. We are also attracted by limited edition or rare items. Owning one gives a feeling of being successful and special yourself. What things do you consider beautiful?

Inner Beauty

Today, we recognize that beauty is not just external but also internal. We know that beyond physical beauty; the beauty of a person’s personality, their character, quirks, traits and uniqueness are what’s more important. We recognize that not all beautiful souls reside in a beautiful or pretty face. It is the glow from within that makes one more beautiful in our eyes. Doesn’t a genuine smile from a stranger move you as much as watching a sun set?

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.
– Khalil Gibran

As we observe all the beauty around us, we often forget to appreciate the beauty in ourselves. When you look in the mirror, do you see the beauty of your own smile? There is also beauty in the process of self-acceptance. How we look at the world is influenced by how we feel about ourselves. If we do not recognize our own beauty; then the world will look bleak and gray to us. If we know and feel that we are beautiful just by being who we are; then the world will be a more colorful and vibrant place.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Amy Treasure on Unsplash.

Nov

2021

The Allure of Limited Edition Items

Reading Time: 3 minutes

In 1985, one of the most iconic Nike shoes ever, Air Jordan 1 was released. The basketball shoes were designed for famous athlete Micheal Jordan. Today, more than 35 years later, the shoes are still as popular as ever. In fact, it is now a multi-billion dollar worldwide sensation. The shoes are no longer just basketball shoes but a fashion and marketing phenomenon. With various design innovations, Air Jordan has now become hype. Hype means an extravagant item that only a limited number of people in the world can own. It is a sort of marketing strategy for luxury goods. In other words, exclusivity becomes the main selling point. Yet, people still buy it. In fact, some Air Jordans models are now being sold at a hefty price of over $100,000 per pair. That is the allure of limited edition items.

Exclusivity

This phenomenon is not just happening in rubber shoes. It is also true to luxury watches, designer bags, cars and many more items out there. In economics, you call them veblen goods. Investopedia defines a veblen product as a good in which demand increases as the price increases. This means as the items become more expensive so is the demand for these products.

How are these products different? Limited edition items are actually just renditions of the original product but with a little alteration in the design detail. Typically. brands collaborate with other brands to have access to new markets. For example, athletic brand Nike collaborated with luxury brand Dior to release the Air Jordan 1 High OG Dior limited-edition sneaker that they sold for $2000 dollars but is now available in the after market at a hefty price of more than $10,000 each pair.

So, why do people buy expensive limited edition items? Although these items are high quality goods, their selling price and even the after market values do not make sense anymore. The answer is simple: people buy them for their exclusivity. Imagine owning something that only a handful of people in the world have. This is their biggest selling point. What it offers is actually a status symbol. So people are willing to buy second hand goods for a hefty amount just to be part of that exclusive group of people around the world who own that specific product.

Is it Worth it?

The answer is it depends. Buying an expensive limited edition item is all right if you can afford it. The money jar budgeting system allocates 10% of income for play account. So, if it falls within your 10%, why not? You deserve to reward yourself every now and then for all the hard work that you have been doing. It is definitely not worth it if your main purpose is just to keep up with the Joneses. And worse, if you are going to use your credit card and be buried in debt just for a status symbol.

But of course it is different if you are buying it to earn money. However, just like any business it comes with risks. Just because it is a limited edition item does not necessarily mean it will appreciate in price in the after market. You still need to do your due diligence. One of the investment rules from the Richest Man in Babylon is that never enter an investment or a business that you are not familiar with. So, make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.

In short, there is nothing wrong with wanting to own limited edition items as long as you can afford it. But if you can’t, it does not make you a lesser human being if you don’t have what your friends have. If you have a problem fitting in, then you are in the wrong crowd. At the end of the day, it all goes down to loving yourself. If you do, you will be confident about who you are. You will understand that your material possessions do not define who you are.

Feature Image by Pexels from Pixabay

Nov

2021

Taking the Risk: Just Go For It

Reading Time: 3 minutes

All of us have experienced pain and challenges in life. Most of us have lost the attitude of “just go for it”. We’ve all learned the lesson of how to avoid pain and how not to take unnecessary risks. For some of us, our past experiences may have been too traumatic. As a result, we transformed from a flower ready to bloom into a shrinking flower unwilling to open our petals. However, taking risks does have its rewards. The trick is to be more in tune with yourself so you know when and what risks you can take. Sometimes, there is fun and satisfaction on the other side of fear.

Young people are admirable for their courage to take risks. They just go for it and do it. Although adults usually see their behavior as foolish; they are actually enjoying their experiences. They also recover quickly from any setbacks. Their actions may seem brash and irresponsible but older people envy them for being able to enjoy each moment of their life. When they want to do something; they just do it. We sometimes wish that we had their energy and enthusiasm for life. Most young people live by the motto: “You Only Live Once”, so do what you want to do. When we think of spontaneous adventures; we usually associate this experience with young people.

While we often describe young people as impulsive decision makers; they are actually more in tune with their self. They make spur-of-the-moment decisions based on their feelings at the moment even if it may make them seem fickle-minded. For most young people, the main reason for doing something is just for the fun of it. There may be negative consequences afterwards; but they had fun together while doing it. It also deepens their friendship.

Grown-ups can also do what they want to do, when they want to do it, with the people they like. In fact, we should be able to make better decisions on what risks to take because we have more life experience. In short, we are able to make informed and even planned risks. We can also be better prepared for the consequences if we fail.

We can’t go back to our teenage years but we can bring back our youthful enthusiasm for life and hone our risk-taking instincts. The first step is to practice taking small risks. With practice, we can be more confident in making major, risky life decisions when needed. Try being mindful about your own behavior and reactions. Just doing something different each day is a good start. The thrill of doing something for the first time, or after a long time, is always a good way to boost your enthusiasm.

Have the urge to appreciate some flowers? Just go for it. Stop and take time to smell the flowers. Take a moment to appreciate the smell of your morning coffee before diving into work. Is your commute getting boring? Maybe take a different route to go to work or back home and see how it makes you feel. A cute shirt caught your eye? Just go for it! Buy the shirt and observe the bounce in your step afterwards. Go on that sudden road trip you were invited to. Do you feel excited again? Say yes to the invite.

Making unusual decisions or risky decisions can feel scary and thrilling at the same time. You can call it gut instinct, intuition or a message from the Universe. The point is to follow the more pleasant feeling of excitement and thrill and see where it takes you. You might find even more wonderful experiences waiting for you on that different route to the office. This is also practicing how to be honest with yourself. It is an opportunity to choose what you really want instead of going with your usual reaction or behavior. While you are doing this experiment, it helps to do it with people you know and care about. They will be the first ones to notice if you have changed. They will also provide added guidance to ensure that you are not recklessly making your decisions.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Taylor Smith on Unsplash.