Life Lessons Learned from the Sunscreen Song

So you probably all remember it. That lame ass song that littered the radio circa 1999. I remember hating it, turning the radio to a different channel as soon as it came on and wondering who in the world was listening to that crap. Now I know.

I was reintroduced to the song on the most amazing roadtrip of my life by my friend Mark. Mark, in his “I’m 2 years older than you therefore I am wiser” state decided he would enlighten us youngn’s by playing us this song one more time, but this time, he made us promise to actually listen. Ironically, the song has more or less, now, become my mantra. It has so much amazing advice that I just had to share, for any of those hopeless souls out there like me who thought the “Wear Sunscreen” song sucked. Here’s to you.

My favorite lyrics from Baz Luhrmann’s Everybody’s Free in order of appearance

1. 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.
2. Do one thing everyday that scares you.
3. Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Travel.
8. 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.

So, you ready to give the Sunscreen song another shot?

That’s what I thought…