Everybody's
Free
(To Wear Sunscreen)
-- Baz Luhrmann
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 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 knowing 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 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 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
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 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;
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.
(...
music with Quidon singing...)
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'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 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.