SPF 50

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…I will dispense this advice now:

Enjoy the power and beauty of youth; oh nevermind; we will not understand the power and beauty of our youth until they have faded. But in 20 years we’ll look back at photos and recall in a way we can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before us and how fabulous we really looked.

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 our worried minds; the kind that blindside us 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 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 and forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep old letters, throw away old bank statements.

Stretch.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees.

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 we’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.

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 we get, the more we need the people we knew when we were young.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths -- prices will rise, politicians will philander, we too will get old, and when we do... we will fantasize that when we were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t mess too much with your hair.

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.

Maybe I'm wrong. But trust me on the sunscreen.