Once in a Lifetime

As an interpreter, I think about language a lot – about WORDS. And the phrase I have been pondering for about a week is this: ONCE IN A LIFETIME.

People often use it to describe big, grand, amazing things.

· “Visiting the Grand Canyon – oh, that is a once in a lifetime experience!”

· “Skydiving? A total once in a lifetime experience!”

· “Front row tickets to a Lady Gaga concert? Once in a lifetime, man!”

· “A trip to Iceland to see the Northern Lights – wow, a once in a lifetime experience!!”

The use of that phrase relating to positive events like those rubs me the wrong way. Because here is the thing – if you invest your money and time in an experience or event, and it is fabulous and you love it – THEN DO IT AGAIN!!!!

Jumping on an in-ground trampoline in a park in Iceland? NOT ONCE IN A LIFETIME!

When I first started thinking about this, I realized how privileged my take on this sounds. Things that people refer to as “once in a lifetime” often come with high price tags. But even as I mulled it over and tried to examine if I was coming at it from an unfairly advantaged position, I didn’t change my opinion.

Because here is the thing. Yes, skydiving is EXPENSIVE. Yes, trips to other countries are PRICEY. But if you do something magical once, and you adore it, you start saving to do it again the minute you come home! Skip the cappuccino at the coffee shop and make java at home. Get an extra part-time job to bring in some savings. Even if it takes years to fill the bank account back up enough to repeat the experience, DO IT! And the whole time you are saving you can dream of the magic that will happen once you are able to repeat the adventure!!

So, may I suggest that we save the phrase “once in a lifetime” for things that we do NOT want to repeat. Let’s use it for negative stuff. Like:

· “I had to have brain surgery – once in a lifetime experience (I hope!).”

· “Totaled my brand new car – once in a sucky lifetime experience, sigh.”

· “I dropped my luggage on the train tracks just as the Orange Line train rolled into the station – watching it get squished was a once in a lifetime experience for sure.”

See – it fits there! That’s stuff that HAPPENED, but you don’t want to re-live… It was a ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE!

Getting, like, super close to molten hot lava from an active volcano? Yes please - let's do it again!

Meanwhile, staying in a heated plastic bubble hanging from trees in the woods in Iceland?? FREAKING AMAZING and let’s do it again!

Snorkeling with huge turtles in Hawaii??? Let’s do it over and over and over (start saving now!)

Seeing Lady Gaga perform live? Yes please, and buy the concert t-shirt to wear as you save up for tickets for the next tour!

Words matter. Attitude matters. And life is short – so make the most of it!

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