Inspiration

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.
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 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.
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 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.