Your grandparents’ slang sounds ridiculous now. Yours will too someday. Talk anyway.

Every generation’s way of speaking ages out, and the words that feel effortless to you now will sound dated to somebody who is sixteen in forty years. That is not a reason to be careful or self-conscious about how you talk. It is proof that language belongs to whoever is using it, and right now that is you.

Notice when you hold back a word because you worry it sounds silly. Use it. And the next time an older relative says something that makes you laugh, ask where it came from instead of just teasing them.