Ladies and gentlemen of my acquaintance...

Ladies and gentlemen. If I could give you one tip for the future, passion would be it.

The long term benefits of passion have been proved by artists, authors, dancers, musicians and lovers whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own chaotic thought processes. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the turbulence and mess of passion – though you will not understand its value until discipline and rules set in. But in 20 years you will look back on your achievements and recall in a way you can’t grasp how many opportunities you let slip away because you did not give in to your desires – you could not give expression to your imagination

Stop worrying obsessively over consequences. Or worry. But know that worrying is like trying to solve the rubiks cube blindfolded. The real problem lies not in the consequences, but in the inability to pack your bags and leave for an unplanned weekend at a moment’s notice.

Do one thing every day that scares you

Be reckless.

Say something to someone you would regret not having said later.

Stop measuring your thoughts, or your laughter. Or the duration and number of those kisses.

Wear ratty pajamas. And that black satin nightgown. Smile through those killer heels. Get drenched in the rain

Don’t waste time in conforming, life’s too short.
In the end it’s only you who has the right to judge yourself.

Remember the rules, break them – sometimes you will get rewarded, and sometimes your world will crumble.

Pick up those pieces and put them together haphazardly, marvel at this new design in your life

If someone comes and kicks your castles down again then hit them right back.
If you can forgive and forget instead, tell me how.

Sleep. Dance. Drink. Travel. Read.

Learn a new language. And a new dish. Have an opinion

Don’t keep your old love letters. Create new love stories. But take lots of pictures – of everything.

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what to do with your life. But don’t stop trying to do something. Ever.

Maybe you will find your soulmate, maybe you won’t. Maybe you will fall in love - and then lust. Maybe you will have that perfect kiss, maybe you will always be searching for chemistry, maybe you will grow old together – but whatever you do, do it with madness. Enjoy your chaos, don’t be afraid of it or what others think of it. Your craziness is the greatest strength you’ll ever own.

It’s those trees that bend with the storm but still stand tall in the face of turbulence that paint the most arresting pictures on a cloudy horizon

Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room, with yourself.

Forget maps, take the road less traveled. Get to know the people around you. You never know who will turn out to be the perfect partner. Or the perfect jerk. Learn from him/her. Understand that lovers and friends can come and go – but enjoy them completely while they are there. Don’t do half-hearted relationships – your days are already too cluttered with acquaintances.

Live in a hostel once. It will help you cherish bonds. Live in Calcutta once. It will help you nurture your soul.

Accept certain inalienable truths. Your skin will get lines, people will backstab, you will meet the perfect partner when it’s too late, traffic will increase, so will your workload, you won't be able to hold your drink, there will always be someone better dressed than you, your dreams will seem more and more illogical.

Carry on. And depend a little less on some people, a little more on your awesomeness. Things will always change. But your belief in yourself never should. And another person’s inability to live up to your faith shouldn’t change your ability to trust.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.

And you can’t have that. Because no matter what anyone says, you’re not a lost cause at 40. You’re still fabulous.

Always be prepared. Wear waterproof mascara - and long-stay lipstick. And after-shave.

Be careful whom you give your heart to. But cherish those who give theirs to you. Love is a form of dependence. Giving it away, a way of reinforcing your self-confidence. You polish it up for the next buyer, hoping it will fetch the right price – it hardly ever does. So love if you want to, or don’t.

But trust me on the passion.

The song that inspired this post, original lyrics here