There was this song....late 90's. Actually, I am pretty sure it says it's dedicated to the class of '99. Anyway, it is epic, and NO ONE else knows it. It is by Baz Luhrmann and called "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)." It's kind of a strange title, and certainly a strange song. He just sort of talks through the whole thing, no singing. But this man gives some of the best damn advice I have ever heard. They are things everyone should know, live by, and accept. It came up on shuffle on my IPod yesterday and I thought, I am gonna share this song with some people and hopefully enlighten a little....
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99
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."
That's just a fantastic start. I mean, at least I think so. He's flippin right about the sunscreen....me and my redheaded fairness can attest to that shit. The experiences that gave him the advice to give are more valuable than anything though, really.
"Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth;
oh nevermind;
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 are not as fat as you imagine."
The age old lament of the human race. We all get old, look back, and think damn, I really had it all then. As much as I wish it were possible, teens and 20 something's won't ever be able to fully understand how great things are at this age. You have to get older, lose the things he describes, before you realize anything. Not as fat as I imagine you say??? Why yes, I do believe you are right. Too bad I can't make myself believe deep down, even when I know its true. I blame our society. Cause...yeah I am a little fluffy....but it shouldn't be that hard to find clothes, and I shouldn't be about to bust out of XL shirts....Just sayin'. Wasn't Marilyn Monroe a size 12??? And everyone knows she was the shit in her time. Why is that so frowned upon now? I blame Twiggy.
"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."
I worry like it's cool. I really wish I didn't but I come from a long line of worriers and had zero chance of escaping. I know all about the troubles he speaks of though. Those things that come that you never would have imagined. A car accident, a death, some kind of sinking blow. I had that happen to a friend of mine this summer. Something we all knew could have happened, but never really amgined it would. It affected us all and things won't ever be the same. Fuckin idle Tuesdays....
" 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 "
Random, and wonderful advie. I certainly should start embracing that first one. I am scared of so, so much. Stupid stuff, too, that keeps me from having fun. Sigh, I hate being a chicken. Sing....I do! Everyone else should, too. Even if it's just to belt it out like Beyonce in your car. Its incredibly freeing. About other people's hearts, and your own. I just think we all need to learn a little bit of kindness, some compassion. That, and people need to stop laying down and letting other run over them while they do nothing to stop. Also...everyone should be flossing. Take of your teeth...it sucks to lose them.
"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. "
I really can't expound on this....certainly only with yourself....brilliant.
"Remember the compliments you receive,
forget the insults;
if you succeed in doing this,
tell me how."
Oh, me too!!!!!
"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."
Don't know about the love letters. That could end bad in your next relationship. About the bank statements, yes, throw them away and don't dwell. But make sure to shred them first cause we live in a world full of crap people. I don't know what I want to do with my life...does that make me interesting????
"What ever you do,
don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either –
your choices are half chance,
so are everybody else’s."
I just like this one. Yeah, your choices may not work out the way you want. But remember everyone else has the same chances as you.
"Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room."
Once again, I do and so should you.
"Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly."
Step away from the Cosmo's ladies. Unless of course you are reading it cause its hysterical!!! In that case, read on my friend.
"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."
Family is more important than most peopl realize and good friends become your family. DO whatever you have to to keep ahold of them. You'll need them in your life, more than you can imagine.
"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."
I wish I could do this. Just up and move somewhere for a little while, experience things. But alas, I am too worried about the outcome, too chicken to try, and very stuck in how things should go. Practical to a fault.
"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."
The only reason we believe prices used to be reasonable is beacause with each passing day, they become more and more unimaginable. Reminiscing about how easy it used to be, how great it used to be, and how cheap and honest it was, makes us feel better; consoles us. Our current generation has a serious lack of respect for their elders, and it makes so sorely disappointed in those I call peers. Snap out of it and realize what they have to offer you.
"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."
Make sure to rely on yourself a little more than others. You will be disappointed at some point and its best to be able to fall back on yourself, just in case.
"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."
Advice is only as good as the person giving it, and the willingness of the person recieving it.
Love this. So true. You rock!
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