Hissy Fit - April 2025 - YOLO: Life is Short

April 2025 Issue
by Elizabeth Skenes Millen

Life is short. And I’m not saying to eat dessert first, or anything like that, unless you want to of course, but we all need to start savoring our minutes. If you think about it, time is the only currency we spend without ever knowing how much we have left. So, with that sobering thought in mind, is it really worth spending your precious moments doing mindless, unenjoyable things. I’m not talking about dishes, they are a necessity. I’m referring to things like watching endless reels of some doctor popping massively infected pimples or scrolling through profiles, looking at everyone else living it up. (Even though they are not really living it up, either—trust me.)

There are many things culminating this month for me—Easter, family stuff, Pink turning 21, the awakening of spring—that have sent me into deep thought about how I spend my time. What an eyeopener, and, needless to say, I am not happy about my carelessness with my minutes. I care about my minutes, but I’m not living like I do. Are you?

I’m not a television watcher, so for me, I am spending—actually wasting—too much time on my phone, and it’s robbing me of my precious minutes of which I have no idea how many I have left. I think even my dog is bored. I understand that things we do mindlessly can be an escape, but if we are living a life we need to escape from, perhaps it would be a good idea to evaluate our lives and make some changes.

I started thinking about times I’ve had and activities I’ve done in my life that brought me great joy. One of those things was raising my children. They’re grown now, have full-time jobs, and moved to Bluffton. I see them often, but they have their own lives for which I’m very happy.

Something else that brought me immense happiness, albeit 20 years ago, is the time I swam with the dolphins at Marineland. It took a week to wipe the smile off my face. I also rode a horse once on the beach on Amelia Island. I had not ridden a horse in years, so I was nervous but what an experience. I felt so free, which I never knew would be such a scarce commodity in adulthood.

I remember how free I felt on a Friday afternoon, getting out of school, and having no homework for the weekend. It felt so good, like sunshine and a light breeze on a mild summer’s day. I never have the feeling of being free like this when I’m bogged six-feet down into my phone. Do you?

This is a wake up call. I’m not really a today’s slang girl, but I’m yelling YOLO! Can you hear me? You only live once, and if you don’t feel like you’re living, I want you to yell YOLO, too! (Just like the wild woman on this month’s cover!)

To get grounded, I always go back to author Mary Oliver’s poignant question—“What do you want to do with your one wild and precious life?” Surely, no one has ever said, “I want to stay inside and watch people pop zits on my smart phone.” Not me! You?

Fortunately, I’ve come down with a severe case of spring fever, and I’m ready for my life to be more exciting, more joyful, and more free, despite today’s contentious climate of wallowing in negative political arguing, road rage, and entitlement. I hope my spring fever is contagious, and that I spread it everywhere. Check to see if you have it. Here are the symptoms:

Restlessness: You will want to venture outside more than usual, possibly crave cold beer or margaritas, listen to Jimmy Buffett, and be by the water at all times.

Increased Good Mood: Your friends will notice a lighter, more friendly you, a pep in your step, perhaps less bitchiness or complaining. You may even laugh out loud. Your conversations may become surprisingly positive when you least expect it. Warning: Don’t worry, spring fever is not fatal.

Increased Energy: You may be compelled to dig the bikes out of the garage and even pump up the tires. You may go on long walks or feel the urge to run, jump, and play. Pine straw will suddenly annoy you. The dog may even perk up.

Need to be Outside: You will suddenly want to dine outside, have a glass of wine on your back porch, or take your lunch break on a park bench.

Have Bouts of Cleaning and Organizing: Girl, don’t fight it, just get your closet clean—and toss out the stuff weighing you down— so you can drink margaritas, listen to Jimmy Buffett, and be by the water at all times!

Are you with me? YOLO!