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, never mind;
you will not understand
the power and beauty of your youth until they've 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 are 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 bubble gum.
The real troubles in your life
are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind,
the kind that blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing every day 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 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 of 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 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 a spirit will take you and guide you there
I know you've been hurted
but I've been waiting to be there for you
And I'll be there just helping you out
Whenever I can..."
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 past
and the people
most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go,
but with a 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
who 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 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'll 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 a spirit will take you and guide you there
I know you've been hurted
but I've been waiting to be there for you
And I'll be there just helping you out
Whenever I can..."
Everybody's Free, Everybody's Free To Feel Good!