Why I YOLO

You only live once.

YOLO.

Do you remember when the phrase YOLO first became a thing? I don't remember exactly when that was, but I remember that I would hear people say it and think, "Man, that's so dumb. It's just an excuse to do dumb stuff." I would hear it used in this sort of way: "Want to go light a tire on fire?" "Aahhhh, sure. YOLO, right?"

And so what did I do? I started using that phrase as a joke. Until I actually used it for real. For me, it sort of became a replacement for "why not?"

"Want to go camping tonight?"
"Well, I have work tomorrow, but YOLO."

"Want to go on a road trip?"

"Aah, sure. YOLO."

"Want to go waterskiing again?"

"I'm tired, but YOLO."

I said it on a family trip more than a few times, and my aunt and uncle bought me this cool YOLO shirt from Lake Powell. And I love it.

But on a more serious note, I really blame the fact of using YOLO to the perspective I gained from having cancer. Cancer can give the perspective that your days might be numbered, and I want to make the most of every day. I want to go to bed every night thinking back on how awesome that day was.

I think I've done a pretty good job at letting the world know that I like to make every day count. Whether it's cliff jumping, a Lagoon trip, snowboarding down Old Main Hill, Bubble Soccer, or even cleaning the sink at Angie's for the umpteenth time, life is a party. In a conversation with my mom about six months ago, she said, "Do you know what I said in me and your dad's prayer together the other night? 'Please bless Erik this weekend, on whatever adventure he's having, that he'll be safe.' "

Yep. I've got this adventurous thing down, and people know it.

I'm enjoying summer, my jobs, and being able to greet new students who come to USU. I love being able to just go somewhere or do something. I love living in a place where I feel comfortable to have these fun adventures and to be myself. I love life, and I enjoy every single day.... because every day is awesome, and every day is worth it.

Paint Twister. May 2014.

Stargazed. Two trucks back to back. June 2014.

Took pictures with a couch and other random crap. June 2014.

Cliff jumped 30 ft into 2000 Flushes. June 2014.

Shaving Cream War. July 2016.

Questival: cleaned the sink at Angie's. Oct 2015.

Found out what you really could do in 24 hours... Questival. Oct 2015.

Ran the Cedar Half Marathon. TWICE. Sept 2012 and 2015.

How we celebrated Star Wars Day.... and put our SUU graduation robes to good use. May 2014.

Soda Run ALMOST EVERY DAY. Spring semester 2014.

Made a mannequin. His name is Rico. February 2014.

Climbed to the summit of Mt Timpanogos (7 hrs each way) to watch the sunrise. Sept 2015.

Questival: saw the sunrise. Oct 2015.

Questival: visited Porcupine Reservoir. Oct 2015.

Played Bubble Soccer (still have a scar on my face from it). Nov 2015.

Taught Kelsie how to snowboard on Old Main Hill at 11 pm. January 2016.

Climbed Angel's Landing for the 5th time. Spring Break 2016.

Got TWO fetching large slurpees for $1.50 each, over two days. March 2016.

Went SKYDIVING. March 2016.

Won $200 of Aggie Gear from the Campus Store. April 2016.

We fit 9 people inside my car for a simple ice cream run. April 2016.

Became Snapchat FAMOUS. Seriously. May 2016.

Held a fox. May 2016.

Participated in a sack race. At a wedding reception. May 2016.

Cliff jumped into Porcupine Reservoir. June 2016.

Get to meet lots of new students and be a group mentor every SOAR day. Best job ever. Summer 2016.

There is no other day like today. Make the most of it. You only live [this day] once.

Keep running.