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 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…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.
But trust me on the sunscreen…
There exists, between people in love, a kind of capital held by each. This is not just a stock of affects or pleasure, but also the possibility of playing double or quits with the share you hold in the other's heart.
"S.E.X."Eh yo youNow see most cats, would take advantage of you right nowBut I ain't gone do that yoImma give you the game, rightImma give it to you becauseI would want somebody to give my little girl the gameWhen she done found her S.E.X.Life’s a tripVirgin just turned 17 and finally got some hipsHustlers on the block go crazy when you lick ya lipsBut they just want relationThey don’t want relationship(welcome to the real world)It ain’t the sameFellas old enough to be ya daddy know ya nameEverybody's talking’ ‘bout how much that girl done changedCan’t quite put ya finger on itBut you feelin’ strangeLike it's fire in your veins[Chorus:]Girl it’s just yourS.E.X.Mama's secretAnd daddy gone go crazy when he finds out that his baby’s found herS.E.X.Take a deep breathAnd think before you let it go (let it go)The block is packedBaby gotta attitude and proud to holla backMomma’s givin’ advice but she ain’t tryna hear thatNot because it's wrong, just her delivery is wack(Shay get ya behind in this house, if I see you with another boy, I swear)Life is rough,You say that you’re not ready for sex, but you’re in loveHe says if you’d really loved him, you would give it upMama says that’s just a line guys use to get ya stuffWhich one will you trust?[Chorus:]Girl it’s just yourS.E.X.Mama's secretAnd daddy gone go crazy when he finds out that his baby’s found herS.E.X.Take a deep breathAnd think before you let it go (let it go)Eh yo Lyfe, she may take it better coming from a woman (Give it to her)See he’ll tell you all kind of things to get in your pants, yeahBaby it’s a fact, that once it’s gone (it's gone) you’ll never get it back (never get it back)Hold on, to your innocenceUse your common senseYou’re worth waiting for (you’re worth waiting for)Be strongHoney don’t give inBlessing come with patienceUntil we meet again, I’m praying, for you[Chorus:]Girl it’s just yourS.E.X.Mama's secretAnd daddy gone go crazy when he finds out that his baby’s found herS.E.X.Take a deep breathAnd think before you let it go (let it go)[Repeat 2x]------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Must Be Nice"[1st Verse:]Must be niceHaving someone who understands the life you liveMust be niceHaving someone who's slow to take and quick to giveMust be niceHaving someone who sticks around when the rough times get thicksomeone who's smile is bright enough to make the projects feel like a mansionMust be niceHaving someone who loves you despite your faultsMust be niceHaving someone who talks the talk but also walks the walkMust be niceHaving someone who understands that a thug has feelings toosomeone who loves you for sho'you just remember to never let 'em go[Chorus:]Even when your hustling days are goneShe'll be by your side still holding onEven when those 20's stop spinningand all those gold-digging women disappearshe'll still be here[2nd Verse:]Must be niceHaving someone you can come home to from a long day of workMust be niceHaving someone you don't have to show they know exactly where it hurtsMust be niceHaving someone who trusts you despite what they've heardSomeone as mighty as a lion but still as gentle as a bluebirdMust be niceHaving someone you don't have to tell you don't want to be aloneMust be niceHaving someone you can grow old with until God calls ya'll homeMust be niceHaving someone who understands that a thug has feelings toosomeone who loves you for sho'you never let 'em go[Chorus]
