Mike Lee.org - Weekly Random Rambles, Musings & Writings of Mike Lee

You know the Wear Sunscreen Speech, right? If not, where have you been? Under a rock buried in the sand behind an outhouse on an island with dark sunglasses at night? Tsk tsk.

The Wear Sunscreen Speech—sometimes simply known as the "Sunscreen Speech", but originally called "Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young"—was written by Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich way back on June 1, 1997 as a fictional commencement speech that she'd like to give if she were ever asked to.

For some reason, a mischievous student decided to send the speech around as a MIT commencement speech given by Kurt Vonnegut. Weird, huh? If you've seen that email, now you know who really wrote that speech—Mary Schmich and not Kurt Vonnegut (though Vonnegut could have certainly written something just as witty & profound).

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Zen is a school of thought, a state of being. A way of thinking. Traditionally, it is a school of Mahayana Buddhism known for emphasizing an acceptance of the present, embracing spontaneous action, and emancipating the self-conscious & judgmental thinking.

For better or worse, its meaning has evolved as other schools of thought have adopted and interpreted it. In the Mike Lee School of Thought, I merely make a contemporary addition to the traditional definition: excising physical belongings and converting them to a non-corporeal form, namely, the digital format. In my geeky way, this is what I call Digital Zen.

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"Why are people always trying to brag about how bad their eyesight is?"

Ken adjusted his glasses and shrugged. "People brag about their eyesight?"

My arms flailed about furiously as I nodded. "Hells yea. People are always saying, 'How bad is your eyesight?' 'Well, mine is worse.' 'Oh yea, I can't even see that sign over there. I'm as blind as a bat.' I'm so sick of that."

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"I look forward to growing old."

"Are you insane?" Lisa gasped. She regarded me like a little puppy that just ate his own poop.

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Dear Adults,

Hi. I am a little boy living in a small town in America. One day, I will grow up and be an adult just like you.

I am writing to ask you something very important to me. Please don't kill our planet.

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"God, grant me the courage to change that which I can, the serenity to accept that which I cannot, and the wisdom to know the difference."
- Serenity Prayer

I find that each new year is usually better than the last. Which runs contrary to the beliefs of the Good Ole' Days. Or that your college years were the best years of your life. Or that childhood was a magically warm and fuzzy time.

Not that I'm saying those beliefs are false. Childhood was definitely warm and fuzzy. I had Puff the Magic Dragon, kids nowadays have Harry Potter. Both were and are totally real to children.

But, for me, I believe the best years are yet to come.

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"Tell your mother I said, 'Word'."
- J. Byrum

If you don't have your word, you have nothing. Your word is your honor. Your integrity. You.

"Why'd you quit your job?" Tim asked.

With a glass of Macallan in my hand, I answered, "To stay true to my word."

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That moment, that instant we're born: are we good? Or are we evil?

Do we arrive into the world with a predisposition for good deeds, good thoughts, and good intentions? Or are we innately bad, inclined for evil acts, evil notions, and evil desires?

Me, I don't think it's either case. I think we're born selfish, (though selfishness is generally considered an "evil" trait). Allow me to posit:

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"We all have a purpose here. It's up to us to discover what it is."

I leaned back to catch more of the conversation. The somber cafe music gave their subject a serious tone, like they were discussing the fate of the world.

"There are a lot of people in the world," said a younger voice. "How can they all have a purpose?"

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As I fell towards the highway, I realized I was going to die. "Shit, I'm going to die today," where my actual thoughts, I believe.

Facing the realization of one's own death can have a powerful effect. Everything changes. One's view on life changes. And how can it not? Surviving one's death means a second chance on life.

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