Ocean Vuong

There's no improvement. It's just life and it's kindness without hope, which is kindness at the highest cost. And yet we all know people every day who are kind and gracious and good to each other despite all of that. Kindness without any hope of return. That's just something I'm so fascinated in.

Well, in a sense, you know, the idea of YOLO, you only live once, has been really destructive to our world. You know, corporations think they only have one life to harvest. the most profit out of the environment and therefore harm the environment. You know, we're told again and again, no regrets, just seize the day. And it's very self-centered in a way.

Well, in a sense, you know, the idea of YOLO, you only live once, has been really destructive to our world. You know, corporations think they only have one life to harvest. the most profit out of the environment and therefore harm the environment. You know, we're told again and again, no regrets, just seize the day. And it's very self-centered in a way.

Well, in a sense, you know, the idea of YOLO, you only live once, has been really destructive to our world. You know, corporations think they only have one life to harvest. the most profit out of the environment and therefore harm the environment. You know, we're told again and again, no regrets, just seize the day. And it's very self-centered in a way.

But I think another way to think about you only live once is what if you only have one chance to live with care? consideration, a sense of obligation to each other. And it's not even like this, you know, goodie, woo-woo selflessness, but it actually makes your life much better when you live with the obligation that you owe each other everything.

But I think another way to think about you only live once is what if you only have one chance to live with care? consideration, a sense of obligation to each other. And it's not even like this, you know, goodie, woo-woo selflessness, but it actually makes your life much better when you live with the obligation that you owe each other everything.

But I think another way to think about you only live once is what if you only have one chance to live with care? consideration, a sense of obligation to each other. And it's not even like this, you know, goodie, woo-woo selflessness, but it actually makes your life much better when you live with the obligation that you owe each other everything.

both strangers and family and your environment and your community. And so I wanted to just change the meaning of YOLO. And as a poet, I love that one phrase could have double meaning. You can approach it that if you only have one life, what if you didn't just grab everything you can in the candy store, leaving it a total catastrophe in your wake?

both strangers and family and your environment and your community. And so I wanted to just change the meaning of YOLO. And as a poet, I love that one phrase could have double meaning. You can approach it that if you only have one life, what if you didn't just grab everything you can in the candy store, leaving it a total catastrophe in your wake?

both strangers and family and your environment and your community. And so I wanted to just change the meaning of YOLO. And as a poet, I love that one phrase could have double meaning. You can approach it that if you only have one life, what if you didn't just grab everything you can in the candy store, leaving it a total catastrophe in your wake?

But what if you did it so that other people can also inhabit that space and you can improve it? And, you know, our culture often thinks that's silly, that's childish, right? It's too wholesome and earnest. But I think earnestness is an incredible, courageous thing. I respect it immensely in the people I meet and the students I have. If you're earnest and sincere...

But what if you did it so that other people can also inhabit that space and you can improve it? And, you know, our culture often thinks that's silly, that's childish, right? It's too wholesome and earnest. But I think earnestness is an incredible, courageous thing. I respect it immensely in the people I meet and the students I have. If you're earnest and sincere...

But what if you did it so that other people can also inhabit that space and you can improve it? And, you know, our culture often thinks that's silly, that's childish, right? It's too wholesome and earnest. But I think earnestness is an incredible, courageous thing. I respect it immensely in the people I meet and the students I have. If you're earnest and sincere...

It's the most greatest truth because it means that you're willing to risk vulnerability and ridicule. You're willing to be wrong and come off silly because you believe in everything. I think it's okay to believe in everything. It's okay to believe that. If you have this one life, you should try to make it better for other people. Children just have that. It's not a question to them.

It's the most greatest truth because it means that you're willing to risk vulnerability and ridicule. You're willing to be wrong and come off silly because you believe in everything. I think it's okay to believe in everything. It's okay to believe that. If you have this one life, you should try to make it better for other people. Children just have that. It's not a question to them.

It's the most greatest truth because it means that you're willing to risk vulnerability and ridicule. You're willing to be wrong and come off silly because you believe in everything. I think it's okay to believe in everything. It's okay to believe that. If you have this one life, you should try to make it better for other people. Children just have that. It's not a question to them.

But as you get older, we start to be more fearful of that because we think that if I believe in goodness too much, then I've fallen for something. I've been duped. I've been stymied into believing goodness. And sometimes it's really hard. There are days where I can't do it. But that's my North Star.

But as you get older, we start to be more fearful of that because we think that if I believe in goodness too much, then I've fallen for something. I've been duped. I've been stymied into believing goodness. And sometimes it's really hard. There are days where I can't do it. But that's my North Star.

But as you get older, we start to be more fearful of that because we think that if I believe in goodness too much, then I've fallen for something. I've been duped. I've been stymied into believing goodness. And sometimes it's really hard. There are days where I can't do it. But that's my North Star.

And that's why I started the book with that North Star is that the hardest thing is to live only once. So make it count and make it count for others as well.