Each Monday, I would like to share a reminder about the importance of being mindful. These will come from literature, popular culture, music--anywhere one might get this sort of everyday life nudge.
If you've known me as an Advanced 11th grade English teacher, you'd know that one of my favorite days of the year is the day that I would share Baz Luhrmann's "Wear Sunscreen" song with my juniors. It was the best way I could think of to introduce aphorisms and get students to be interested in advice from previous generations (and MAYBE even inspire a face-to-face conversation with their parents about how they met! gasp!). My coworkers would joke with me as well as students: "Oh, has Miss K made you sit through the 'Wear Sunscreen' song yet? No? Wait for it--she might even cry!"
While listening as a class (students instructed to take note of any advice they found particularly inspirational or poignant), I would inevitably, almost involuntarily, mouth the words (all of which I had memorized in seventh grade) and often actually cry at some point during the day--though crying in front of the class was not something I did...
Some students hated it, of course; some students thought it was outdated (especially after I told them it was on the radio for the graduating class of 1997); some students, like me, loved most of its content. Even now, being Facebook friends with some former students, they've recalled "Miss K's song" from class. Below is a link to YouTube as well as the words.
Today's Challenge: Read or listen to "Wear Sunscreen" and determine whether any of this advice has a place in your life. Happy Monday!
YouTube: "Wear Sunscreen" by Baz Luhrmann
"Wear Sunscreen" from Lyrics Mode
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 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.
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.
Brother and sister together we'll make it through
Someday your spirit will take you and guide you there
I know you've been hurting, but I've been waiting to be there
For you.
And I'll be there, just tell me now, whenever I can.
Everybody's free.
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.
But trust me on the sunscreen...
Do you have any advice you particularly like or wish to add? Comment below!
Labels: March Mindfulness, Mindful Mondays