Wear Sunscreen

Today I want to share one of my favorite songs of all time. It's kind of a song at least. Although I don't really listen to it when I want to hear music. I listen to it during weeks or days like these. I don't know about anyone else, but I get into these funks. I'd like to blame it on the weather most of the time, but there are just days when all I want to do is stay in bed and have close friends near by. 

Days where I'm feeling down about myself, stressed, fat or not my perky up beat self I listen to this song. It puts me in the right frame of mind and reminds me that it's all in my head. The song will mean many different things to many different people. And everyone will remember the bits that apply most to their life. 

So I ask you to take a couple minutes out of your day and listen to this song. And maybe you'll just find yourself keeping this idle for when you're having a rainy day. It really helps. Below the video are the lyrics for the song. Bolded and underlined are my favorite parts, or the parts that really resinate with me. 

Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '99Wear sunscreen

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be itThe long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientistsWhereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliableThan my own meandering experience, I will dispense this advice now

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth, oh, never mindYou will not understand the power and beauty of your youthUntil they've faded but trust me, in 20 years, you'll look backAt photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp nowHow much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked You are not as fat as you imagine

Don't worry about the future or worry that know that worryingIs as affective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gumThe real troubles in your life are apt to be thingsThat never crossed your worried mindThe kind that blindsides you at 4 p.m. on some idle TuesdayDo one thing every day that scares you

Sing

Don't be reckless with other people's heartsDon't put up with people who are reckless with yours

Floss

Don't waste your time on jealousySometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behindThe race is long and in the end, it's only with yourselfRemember compliments you receiveForget the insults, if you succeed in doing this, tell me howKeep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements

Stretch

The most interesting peopleI know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their livesSome of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don'tGet plenty of calcium, be kind to your kneesYou'll miss them when they're gone

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won'tMaybe you'll have children, maybe you won'tMaybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the 'Funky Chicken'On your 75th wedding anniversaryWhatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too muchOr berate yourself eitherYour choices are half chance, so are everybody else's

Enjoy your body, use it every way you canDon't be afraid of it or what other people think of itIt's the greatest instrument you'll ever own, danceEven if you have nowhere to do it but your own living roomRead the directions even if you don't follow themDo not read beauty magazines, they 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 your best link to your pastAnd the people most likely to stick with you in the future

Understand that friends come and goBut a precious few, who should hold on

Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyleFor as the older you get, the more you need the peopleYou knew when you were youngLive in New York City once but leave before it makes you hardLive in northern California once but leave before it makes you soft

Travel

Accept certain inalienable truthsPrices will rise, politicians will philander, you, too, will get oldAnd when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were youngPrices were reasonable, politicians were nobleAnd children respected their elders

Respect your elders

Don't expect anyone else to support youMaybe you have a trust fund, maybe you'll have a wealthy spouseBut you never know when either one might run out

Don't mess too much with your hairOr 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 pastFrom the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly partsAnd recycling it for more than it's worth

But trust me on the sunscreen

So what did you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts!