Sunscreen

Sunscreen

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of '99.
Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future,
sunscreen would be it.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by
scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis
more reliable than my own meandering experience...
I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind;
you will not understand the power and beauty of your
youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you'll look back at photos of
yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how
much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you
really looked...
You're not as fat as you Imagine.
Don't worry about the future; or worry, but know that
worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra
equation by chewing bubblegum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things
that never crossed your worried mind.
The kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle
Tuesday.
Do one thing everyday that scares you.
Sing.
Don't be reckless with other people's hearts, don't put
up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don't waste your time on jealousy;
Sometimes you're ahead,
Sometimes You're behind.
The race is long, and in the end, it's only with
yourself.
Remember the compliments you receive, forget the
insults;
If you Succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank
statements.
Stretch.
Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do
with your
Life.
The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22
what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the
most interesting 40 year olds I know still don't.
Get plenty of calcium.
Be kind to your knees, you'll miss them when they're
gone.
Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't, maybe you'll have
children, maybe you won't, maybe you'll divorce at 40,
maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th
wedding anniversary.
Whatever you do, don't Congratulate yourself too much
or berate yourself either.
Your choices are half chance, so are everybody else's.
Enjoy your body, Use it every way you can... Don't be
afraid of it, or what other people Think of it,
It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own...
Dance... even if you have nowhere to do it but in your
own living room.
Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.
Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you
feel ugly.
Brother and sister together we'll make it through
Someday your spirit will take you and guide you there
I know you've been hurting, but I've been waiting to be
there
For you.
And I'll be there, just tell me now, whenever I can.
Everybody's free.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they'll
be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings;
They are the best link to your past and the people most
likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but for the
precious few you should hold on.
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle
because the older you get, the more you need the people
you knew when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes
you hard;
Live in Northern California once, but leave before it
makes you soft.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise,
politicians will Philander, you too will get old, and
when you do you'll fantasize that when you were young
prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and
children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don't expect anyone else to support you.
Maybe you have a trust fund, Maybe you have a wealthy
spouse; but you never know when either one might run
out.
Don't mess too much with your hair, or by the time
you're 40, it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with
those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia,
dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the
disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts
and recycling it for more than it's worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen...
(Brother and sister together we'll make it through
Someday your spirit will take you and guide you there
I know you've been hurting, but I've been waiting to be
there
For you. And I'll be there, just tell me now, whenever
I can.