The Sunscreen Song

My new favorite relaxation experience is taking long baths in the huge bathtub in our house. On sunday I found this AMAZING almond scented creamy bubble bath, and it's almost impossible for me to get out of the tub once I'm in immerssed in almondy goodness. I'm talking over an hour, folks!

Anyways, I recently found a way to enhance my bath, by bringing my laptop in the bathroom with me! I found a playlist on iTunes featuring various classical piano songs, and I made myself a fantabulous relaxation mix.

Upon compiling this mix, I came across one of my most favorite songs. It's 11 years old, and I don't think I had heard it in about 3 years, so it was a very special experience for me to hear it again. This song expresses so much of what I'm feeling now about growing up, living life, making time to enjoy the small things, taking care of yourself and the people you love.

I've posted the lyrics below - it's pretty long but I'd really like it if you would take five minutes to read and absorb the text. My favorite parts are highlighted in red.

Ladies and Gentlemen

of the class of ’97

Wear sunscreen

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.

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’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 blindsides you at 4 pm 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 withyourself.

Remember the 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 yourlife…

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 yearolds 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…

what ever 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 willlook 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