SUNSCREEN
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth.
Never mind.
You’ll not understand the power and beauty of your youth
Until they’ve faded.
But trust me, in twenty years,
You will look back at photos of yourself
And recall how fabulous you really looked at the time.
You are not as fat as you imagine.
Don’t worry about the future,
Or worry,
Knowing that worrying is as effective as
Trying to solve an algebra problem by chewing gum
The real troubles in your life
Are absolutely the things that never crossed your mind.
The kind that blind sight you at 4pm on an idle Tuesday.
Do atleast one thing everyday that scares you.
Sing.
Don’t be reckless with other people’s heart.
Don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don’t waste your time with 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 old love letters.
Throw away old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what to do with your life.
The most people I know
Didn’t know at 24 what they wanted to do with their lives.
Some of the most interesting 40 year olds still don’t.
Get plenty of calcium.
Be kind to your knees.
You’ll miss them when they’re gone.
Maybe you’ll get married,
Maybe you won’t.
Maybe you’ll have children,
Maybe you won’t.
Maybe you’ll get divorced at forty,
Maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken
At your 75th wedding anniversary.
Whatever you do,
Don’t congratulate yourself too much,
Or berate yourself either.
Your choices are half chance
Like everybody else’s.
Enjoy your body,
Use it in 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 have.
Dance.
Even if you have nowhere to do it
But your own living room.
Read instructions, even if you don’t follow them.
Do not read beauty magazines,
That will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents,
You never know when they’ll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings,
They’re the best link to your past
And the people that are likely to stick by you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go,
But with the precious few you should hold on to.
The older you get,
The more you need the people
That knew you 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 inalliable truths.
Prices will rise,
Politicians will philander,
You too will get old, and when you do,
You’ll fantasize that when you where younger,
Prices were reasonable,
Politicians were noble,
And children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don’t expect anyone to support you,
Maybe you’ll have trust fund,
Maybe you’ll have a wealthy spouse.
But you never know when either will run out.
Don’t mess too much with your hair,
Or by the time you’re 40
You’ll look 85.
Be careful whose advice you take,
But be patient with those who give it.
Advice is a form of nostalgia.
Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the rubbish bin,
Wiping it off, and patting over the other parts,
And recycling it for more than its worth.
But, trust me on the sunscreen.
