A friend and I were in car one weekend driving to a wedding when we heard this song played over the radio.
I googled the song and here's an interesting background story: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wear_Sunscreen
When was the first time you heard this song? It was first released in 1999 and became an instant hit (with several versions and parodies). I was already in the workforce then but still a novice. I enjoyed the song so much, it was very engaging and uniqueMoreover, it provides pieces of advice that even decades after it came out are still very timely and valuable.
Why this song post? Since I turned 37, I've been contemplative and it was mainly on how I have gone so far; from being the new girl at work to being a mom and a head of an efficacious work team.This song reflects some of my realizations in life and the reason why applying sunscreen is now part of my daily routine :)
I wanted to share my views and perspective on getting older (to say the least) and how I'm surprisingly happy as I turned a year older. 'Surprisingly' because I expected to feel rather sullen as weeks trickled down to days before my birthday because that had been my mood for the past birthdays.
As I shared here, I'm just thankful for everything but mainly for the years God has given me and how I have become wiser, the continuous inspiration and drive to be better and to achieve my goals, to never give a damn about the frivolities of the world and unclutter my life and, last but not the least, for the wonderful family that are my most precious treasure.
I'm a firm believer of the phrase 'don't sweat the small stuff' and over the years I have become more confident and be less critical of myself. The eyebags will always be there, the Jlo-ish butt will forever be a trademark no matter how skinny I get, I will always be petite (and cute hehe). There will always be limitations to what I am and what I can do but getting in more in touch with my inner self makes it easier to accept me more and not mind what the world thinks I should rather be.
As the kids from the orphanage we visited sang, 'this is my temporary home...I'm just passing by...'
Let's make the most of the time we have here and not bother with all the 'small stuff.'
Happy singing :)
I googled the song and here's an interesting background story: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wear_Sunscreen
When was the first time you heard this song? It was first released in 1999 and became an instant hit (with several versions and parodies). I was already in the workforce then but still a novice. I enjoyed the song so much, it was very engaging and uniqueMoreover, it provides pieces of advice that even decades after it came out are still very timely and valuable.
Why this song post? Since I turned 37, I've been contemplative and it was mainly on how I have gone so far; from being the new girl at work to being a mom and a head of an efficacious work team.This song reflects some of my realizations in life and the reason why applying sunscreen is now part of my daily routine :)
I wanted to share my views and perspective on getting older (to say the least) and how I'm surprisingly happy as I turned a year older. 'Surprisingly' because I expected to feel rather sullen as weeks trickled down to days before my birthday because that had been my mood for the past birthdays.
As I shared here, I'm just thankful for everything but mainly for the years God has given me and how I have become wiser, the continuous inspiration and drive to be better and to achieve my goals, to never give a damn about the frivolities of the world and unclutter my life and, last but not the least, for the wonderful family that are my most precious treasure.
I'm a firm believer of the phrase 'don't sweat the small stuff' and over the years I have become more confident and be less critical of myself. The eyebags will always be there, the Jlo-ish butt will forever be a trademark no matter how skinny I get, I will always be petite (and cute hehe). There will always be limitations to what I am and what I can do but getting in more in touch with my inner self makes it easier to accept me more and not mind what the world thinks I should rather be.
As the kids from the orphanage we visited sang, 'this is my temporary home...I'm just passing by...'
Let's make the most of the time we have here and not bother with all the 'small stuff.'
Happy singing :)
Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)
Baz Luhrmann version
Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of '99. Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you 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'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 fabulous
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 bubblegum.
The real troubles in 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 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.
CHORUS
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 helping you out whenever I can.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they
might 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 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'll 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.
Baz Luhrmann version
Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of '99. Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you 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'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 fabulous
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 bubblegum.
The real troubles in 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 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.
CHORUS
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 helping you out whenever I can.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they
might 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 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'll 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.
2 comments:
I LOVE this song, fell in love with it the first time I heard it. Indeed it has so many lessons :) Thanks for this post, I got reminded of this song - now listening to it via youtube :)
Welcome Zai. Timeless talaga ang song na ito.
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