The youth have their own language. Phrases like "...Not!" and "As if" have become part of mainstream usage, but originated with teens. But there's one expression which runs deeper than it seems to; It expresses more than just an idea or a statement. It's an attitude. It's a normal English word, but the youth, in particular, are famous for using it as a complete sentence: "Whatever." What does it mean? Basically, it's a dismissal. It translates into "I don't care". And for some people, it's a way of life. Most of these people reason that what they do in life won't make much difference. Can they really do anything worth doing? In a hundred years, it'll all be the same, and nobody will know they ever lived at all. So they figure the easiest way to live is to coast along. Whatever happens, happens. Don't care about anything. Don't try to do anything ambitious. Don't get involved in anything stressful, and you'll be fine. Just exist. Just be. Whatever, man. Whatever. Who cares, anyway? You have to wonder if these people ever even think about why they're alive. Do they think that kind of life is worth living? Do they actually want to live aimlessly, not caring about anything, just living to live until they die? Do they think about it at *all*? Face it: That's taking the easy way out on life, and it's not really a life at all. Why bother living if you have no reason? If you're constantly bored, and you hate everything and everyone, isn't it better just to be dead? Apparently, many people eventually reach exactly that thought, considering how high the suicide rate is among teens. So am I encouraging people to kill themselves? Far from it. As you might guess, I'm saying there's an alternative, but it's not easy, and if your favorite word is "Whatever", you won't like it... It involves trying to do something more than just live. It involves giving a damn. It involves making something out of yourself, and doing something with your life. Life is what you make of it. And if you don't make anything of it, your life will be nothing. Your life is worthless. But if you prefer being lazy, you'll probably forget that you read this anyway. So if you just don't care about anything, you might as well decide now if you want to start. Otherwise, well, whatever.