Life Is How We Appreciate It

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth.

Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've 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 fabolous you really looked. You are 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 bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. 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 still long, and in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive.

Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, please 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 lifes. Some of the most interesting 40-years-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 chioces are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can.

Don't be afraid of it or of 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 your living room.

Read the directions.

Even if you don't follow them.

Get to know your parents well.

You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go,

but with a precious few you should hold on.

Work hard to bridge the gaps on geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths:

Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And then 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 to have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse.

But you never know when either one might run out..

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.

*based on The Sunscreen Song*

"Menghargai hidup --

menghargai anugerah terindah yang diberikan Tuhan untuk kita..

Because life, is how we appreciate it.."

"Life is like a blueberry pie. Sometimes it's sour, but most of the time, it's very sweet.."

Love,

Lhalha