“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 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, and 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, and 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. 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.” — Baz Luhrmann, Everybody’s Free (To Wear
Sunscreen)