A Reminder to Myself About My Real Life Objectives

Hi! I listen to this whenever I feel distracted, unfocused and confused:

　
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 proven 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 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 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... 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 ---
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 links 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 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 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...