Today is Memorial Day in the United States. I have met many young men who have joined the military and each time I look into their eyes, I see a brave person who is able to confront fears I never had to face at that age. Some of them may have come face-to-face with Death, yet continue to move forward.

This holiday, I planned to take on my fear of heights once more and take on a challenge that involved a glass slide located one thousand feet in the air at the very top of the tallest skyscraper west of the Mississippi River. I contacted three of my closest friends and we met up in Downtown Los Angeles Sunday afternoon. Before seven o'clock, I was on an elevator to the 72nd floor of the new OUE SkySpace observation deck holding a ticket for the SkySlide.

I am not a fan of heights and even less of a fan of ledges because ever since I was little, I could imagine slipping under the baracades of bridges or tripping over a handrail and accidentally falling. The SkySlide was nothing different because it is a slide box made with glass 1.25" thick and built around the side of the building. I opted to remove my glasses before I boarded the ride. As soon as I qued up to slide down, I looked across the vast cement buildings of East LA, and I let go.

It might be true that we only live once, but the term YOLO should not be used on rare occasions like riding a SkyBridge. This day is reserved to honor the memories of people who served, protected, and honored a cause much larger than themselves because of their dedication.

This Memorial Day's challenge is to step outside of your comfort zone, because after all, You Only Live Once.



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