If I could offer you only one piece of advice 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 other than my own meandering experience. I will dispense that 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 the things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday or wake you from a peaceful slumber at 4am.
Don't dwell on the events of the past. You cannot change the events of the past.
Do one thing everyday that scares you. Learn something new everyday. Greet everyone you meet every day even if it is a simple hello. People want to be "seen" and this simple act of recognition can make an impact.
Sing. Go on, belt out that tune even if you can't carry a tune. This is energy and therapy. It is powerful, and it can shape our reality.
Don't be reckless with other peoples hearts, Don't put up with people that are reckless with yours.
When it comes to love there is no such person as "The One" There is only 60 to 70 percent of "The One" The remaining 30 to 40 percent is grace and forgiveness that you give to that person every day.
Brush and Floss.
Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes your ahead, sometimes your behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.
Remember the compliments your receive. Forget the insults, If you succeed in doing this, tell me how. Time does not fix anything. It just buries what's broken.
Keep your old love letters. Throw away your 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 people I know in their 50's and 60's still don't.
Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.
Don't let yourself have high expectations for anything. Expectations more often than not lead to disappointment.
Understand that having something is not so pleasing a thing as wanting something. It is not logical, but it is often true.
Read. Not just anything, grab a book and read. Read for 30 to 60 minutes before or in bed. It'll settle your mind and you'll sleep better when you do.
Do not read beauty advice. It is designed to make you feel ugly.
Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.
Children, as they grow up, as a rule, can be a bitter disappointment. Their greatest objective seems to do precisely the opposite of what their parents wish. It is not possible to protect them from disappointment in life.
Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Humility is good but it ain't bragging if you can do what you say. 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.
Get to know your parents, You never know when they'll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings. They are your best link to the past and the people most likely to stick by you in the future.
Friends will come and go, but with a precious few you should strive to hold onto. Work hard to bridge the gap in geography and lifestyle with them, for the older you get the more you will need the people you knew when you were young.
Accept certain inalienable truths - Prices will rise. Politicians will always be corrupt.
Forgive yourself. Forgiveness from others is a myth. People never truly forgive and forget. Absolute forgiveness only comes from God.
You will get old. Embrace it. When you do get old you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, people never held anything against you and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you'll have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you'll never know when either on will might run out. Start saving early in life for your retirement since social security may not be around either when you do retire.
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 what it's worth. Be careful whose advice you receive, but be patient with those who supply it. Including mine.
But trust me on the Sunscreen.
