The Sunscreen Song...
During the past couple of days while I've been working, I've been listening to my music folder where I stick all of the random songs I've picked up from various places and have no other folder in which to place them. While listening to the songs, I've been reminded of how much I really like the lyrics of the song "Everyone's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)". The advice is simple, and yet there is something about it that always makes me stop and listen more carefully to the words when I realize the song's playing. Seeing as it's not a very popular song now (and I doubt it's really ever played anymore on the radio), I've copied the lyrics below.
Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you 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,nevermind, 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 bubblegum.
The real troubles in 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 peoples 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 what other people think of it...
It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.
Dance...even if you have nowhere else 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 might 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,
except for the precious few you should hold on to.
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'll 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.
Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you 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,nevermind, 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 bubblegum.
The real troubles in 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 peoples 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 what other people think of it...
It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.
Dance...even if you have nowhere else 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 might 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,
except for the precious few you should hold on to.
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'll 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.