Words to live by

I'm way late hopping on the Kurt Vonnegut good-bye train. I wasn't his biggest fan, nor did he inspire me in ways that I can't fathom. He did, however, serve a roll in one of the biggest literary Urban legends -- Everybody's Free (to Wear Sunscreen).

He did not write or deliver the speech, but he's often lumped in with the explanation of the speech/song for whatever reason.

The advice provided in Everybody's Free (to Wear Sunscreen) is rich and often forgotten. Often, when I feel like I need a swift kick, I look up the speech/song and print it out; reminding myself to put things into perspective.

Stephanie Klein, of Greek Tragedy fame, (also a blogger who I really enjoy reading) has drafted her own version and it, too, is full of advice you don't often think about, but appreciate when it's put in front of your face.

If you find yourself in need of a dose of "get with it" give them both a read.

Everybody's Free (to Wear Sunscreen)
A few of my favorites:

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Never mind. 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.

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 every day that scares you.

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.

Be kind to your knees, you'll miss them when they're gone.

Dance. Even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Be nice to your siblings; they are 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 in lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Talk to me baby

Never has an article hit home so fast and so hard than this one that appears in the April issue of Women's Health.

If you've ever dated, worked with or been near a man, read this article.

Had I seen this in the beginning of my relationship with Aaron it would have saved me countless arguments, not to mention time.

Read it.