My life's silver anniversary is at hand
Woopie. I am going to turn 25 in 6 days. I have lived through a quarter of a century. Sure I wasn’t in my senses for the first few years, but one tends to catch up after the teen years have passed on by. I did feel senile as a kid and now I act more and more like a child to compensate for the lost years, I think. There is a pattern I see. People with missed childhoods tend to try and catch up more with it when it might seem inappropriate to others. Who is to decide what is right behavior anyways? The whole point of this blog was to show that one could and should have fun. So I might wallow in self pity from time to time. But every dog has it’s day and I intend to bounce back. Wait. Strike that. I’ve already bounced back.
Birthdays hold nothing dear to me. Some randomly appointed date that keeps coming back isn’t exactly significant. I have some good birthday moments, but in general I denounce the idea of them. Anniversaries and such are similarly over rated, and I am past the age where trinkets alone could amuse me.
Moving along... A wise lady once gave this speech that I intend to recite with mirthy intonation. It’s one of those beautiful things that get merit for speaking apt truth in a manner that is easy to digest and fun to read. Behold, my pretend advice for the future…
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 blindside you at 4pm
on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing everyday that scares you
Sing
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.
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.
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,
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.
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.
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…
Birthdays hold nothing dear to me. Some randomly appointed date that keeps coming back isn’t exactly significant. I have some good birthday moments, but in general I denounce the idea of them. Anniversaries and such are similarly over rated, and I am past the age where trinkets alone could amuse me.
Moving along... A wise lady once gave this speech that I intend to recite with mirthy intonation. It’s one of those beautiful things that get merit for speaking apt truth in a manner that is easy to digest and fun to read. Behold, my pretend advice for the future…
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 blindside you at 4pm
on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing everyday that scares you
Sing
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.
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.
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,
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.
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.
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…
posted by procrastinator at 12:53 PM
3 Comments:
Now wasn't that more fun? Have a good time on your birthday and remember to call me on mine. I turn 25 too
wonderful speach..... but i noticed the lack of liquor in there :(
that saddnes the don :(
so i guess i'll go drink now and wash away my sorrow :)
cheerz :)
The don.
:-) what sorrows :-P
Well that wise lady didn't write about the joys of alcohol but i did na :-D. tank u veri much (taking a bow)
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