Don't try so hard to be respectable. Speak from your heart about what you truly believe, even if it makes you look naive¹ or sentimental².

不要太用力去得到社会的认可。倾听你内心真正相信的东西，即使这会让你看起来天真或伤感。

You can radically³ change your life when/if you need to. You don't need to keep doing what you have been doing, just because you are in the habit of doing it.

你可以彻底改变你的生活，只要你想去改变。你不需要因为习惯了做一件事，就继续做下去。

Being friendly and open to meeting new people in random⁴ places can lead to cool adventures and friendships. Don't get too comfortable in your present circles of acquaintances.

对在任何地方遇到的陌生人都抱着开放和友好的态度，可能会给你带来炫酷的经历和友情。别太陷在你现在的熟人圈子里。

You need way less money than you think to survive, stop obsessing⁵ about it, and just spend less.

生活必需的钱比你想象得要少得多，不要迷恋钱，少花就是。

It's OK not to know what you want to do for the rest of your life. Leave space for the completely unexpected to happen.

你不知道自己余生想做什么也OK，刚好为完全未知的事情留出空间。

God loves you even more because you are a bit of a freak. Don't hide your light under a button-down bushel.

如果你有一点疯狂，上帝会更爱你的。千万不要掩藏你的才华。

Leave your door without any purpose once in a while and see where the city takes you. Don't just stay on the path between your apartment, work and the gym.

偶尔毫无目的地出去走走，看看你生活的城市能带你去哪儿。不要固定在家、公司、健身房三点之间。

Hang out with your long-time friends more and contact those with whom you have lost touch. You don't seem to have as many friends as you used to.

多多与多年老友碰面，重新找到失去联系的朋友。因为你会发现自己没原来那么多朋友了。

Ambition is overrated. Stop trying so hard to be "successful."

抱负被抬得过高。不要费劲全力只为了所谓的“成功”。

It's a good thing to believe that a Utopian society where everyone is treated with dignity and equality is possible and worth working for. Cynicism doesn't make you intelligent -- it just makes you cynical⁶.

相信人人平等、有尊严的乌托邦社会可以实现，并愿为实现这一目标而努力是好事。但愤世嫉俗不会让你变聪明，只会让你变得愤世嫉俗。

Create art every once in a while. Even though you aren't particularly talented and nobody really loved your 'nude⁷ portrait under autumn leaves' the creative process is good for your soul.

偶尔搞搞艺术。就算你没有特别的才华，就算没有人欣赏你的“秋天落叶下的裸体自画像”，创造的过程也能美化你的灵魂。

The next time you hear yourself reminiscing about how you "used to do something," make a plan to do it. Studying dance, carving⁸ pumpkins⁹ for Halloween, and doing improve shouldn't all be thought of in the past tense.

下一次你再回忆起当年“做什么事”的时候，制定一个重新开始的计划吧。学跳舞、刻万圣节南瓜、即兴表演都不应该存在于过去式中。

Don't just give money, go volunteer somewhere so you can have direct interactions with people. Your life is too antiseptic and it is making you a bit boring.

不要只是捐钱，去某个地方做志愿者吧，这样你就可以和别人直接互动。你的生活太“防腐”了，你开始觉得有点无聊了吧。

You should be so crazy thankful that you found love with Brad. You spent a lot of time very lonely, never thinking you would find such an amazing guy. Don't let a day go by without remembering how fortunate you are.

找到另一半你绝对应该谢天谢地。你一个人那么久了，哪里会想到你会遇到这么好的人。活着的每一天都要记得你是多么的幸运。

Try a new sport! The routine of card and weights just to look decent is getting old. You were an athlete! Get back into swimming and sign up for the race across the East River or take up boxing.

尝试新的运动!有氧运动和举哑铃的惯例已经老套了。你以前可是运动员!重新开始游泳，报名跨河跑步比赛，或是学学拳击吧。

When did you become such a preppy bore? You used to not be afraid to stand out and it wouldn't kill you to wear something a bit more fashion-forward once in a while.

你什么时候变得这么保守这么无趣?你曾经不怕引人注目的，你也曾偶尔穿上时髦前卫的衣服。

Your parents were there for you, even when you were going through rough times and, frankly¹⁰, a bit of a brat¹¹. They need you now. You will never regret the time you spend with them.

你的父母过去一直支持你，即使在你经历最难熬的日子的时候，或是你淘气的时候。他们现在需要你。多和他们在一起，你永远不会后悔的。

Find ways to be alone in the woods or on the water by yourself. Don't forget how much you value solitude¹² in nature.

想办法去一个人在森林里或在水上待着。别忘了你有多重视那份在大自然中的孤独感。

Find a group that has been formed within the last five years and buy a new CD.

找一个5年内成立的乐队，买一张他们的新CD。

Stop beating yourself up about mistakes that you have made. It's good to be self-critical, but you need to be compassionate¹³ as well.

别再为犯过的错自责了，自我批评虽好，但你也需要有同情心啊。

If you can be a parent to a child of your own then do it! You've always wanted to have a family. If that doesn't work out, be the best uncle to your nephews and nieces. They make you so proud.

如果你可以做父母，一定要做!你一直都想有个家。如果没做成，那就做侄子侄女的好叔叔好舅舅吧。他们都会让你骄傲的。

Value every day you have. At 25 I never thought you would live to be 50. Celebrate your life.

珍惜你的每一天。25岁的时候我从没想到你会活到50岁。庆祝你的人生吧。