Still On Hiatus, I Swear.

To whoever reads this: as you're perhaps aware, I haven't posted anything in September or October. Besides this. That's because I felt that I was starting to enjoy this and maybe if I did it a lot more I could be okay at it ... but writing college applications and securing strong first-quarter grades must take priority.

But something has been pissing me off recently.

"You only live once."

"Live every day like it is your last."

"We only have a little time on this Earth, so make the most of it and live it up."

I feel like this has the potential to be good advice. Not to waste one's time on trivial pursuits, to choose fulfillment over chasing material goals.

When did it come to justify hedonism? I hate to become one of those blogs, lamenting our moral deterioration, but the renunciation of worldly responsibilities in favor of some ethically bankrupt quest for personal satisfaction just seems a deplorable misinterpretation of a generally good idea.

When did "seize the moment" become "I'm here for a good time, not a long time?"

I've seen this "live in the moment" idea twisted to entice people away from work, responsibility, even compassion — into lifestyles that permanently damage everyone involved. There is such a world of difference between "do what makes you happy" and "do what feels good," and yet I feel like they've become synonymous.

There is value in creating stable relationships founded on mutual respect; building careers in academia and professional life ... even prospering to ensure the security of one's family and posterity. But all of that is mutually exclusive with "living it up 24/7."
It seems all of that is just boring to the generation who's too cool 4 school.
Owlblink.

I'm not necessarily against drugs and sex and partying and gaming and pleasure; I'm not trying to preach to anyone — I'm just becoming increasingly worried by the complacency and entitlement I see in my generation.

How exactly is "do whatever you want" going to interact with the energy, resource, and geographic demands of 8 billion people, or 10 billion, or 20? Whose idea was it that we make the most of our time here by consuming as quickly as possible?

Shit, man.