SunscreenLadies and Gentlemen of the class of '97, Wear sunscreenIf 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 never mind, you will never understand the power and the beauty of your youth until they've faded.But trust me, in twenty years, you will 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 that know that worrying is as affective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. 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 every day 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 jealously, 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 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 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.