There is a song by Baz Luhrmann called Sunscreen. It’s not the music that I love but the words. He starts by telling a graduating class that if they were to take one piece of advice from him it should be to wear sunscreen. Here are excerpts from the rest of his “speech:”
“Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh never mind. 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 blind side you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.”
“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.
…
Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.
….
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.
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.
…
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 mess too much with your hair, or by the time you’re 40, it will look 85.
… And, trust me on the sunscreen…”
Have a great day!
theyearof50 