Luna Lovegood's Advice to All and Sundry

Have faith.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, faith would be it. Whether it’s in a religion, another person, yourself, or the Great Unknown, the benefits of faith have been proven, 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. When someone tries to tell you that the power and beauty of your youth have faded, ignore them.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to catch a Crumple Horned Snorkak by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind. Well, no, I can’t give an example. As I said, until they happen, they’ll never cross your mind.

Do one thing every day that scares you. Or at least gets your attention.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. The best people I know tell you up front when they want to be just friends.

Floss. Why are you looking at me that way? Even I am allowed to give ordinary, sensible advice occasionally.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. You are the only person in the world who can be you. And that should be more than enough.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. It helps to be a little bit… shall we say “abstracted”?

Keep your old bottle caps. They make great jewelry.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. If your have an open mind and a sense of adventure, the Quibbler can always use good people.

Get plenty of calcium. Not only is it good for your bones, but it helps to ward off Nargles… and believe me, nobody will 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 dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary, maybe you’ll have to wait until you’re reunited beyond the veil and see what kind of dances they’re doing over there. Whatever you do, take time to congratulate yourself. Your choices are your own and therefore special.

Enjoy your imagination. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of 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 your common room. When your housemates look at you funny, invite them to join in. Even if they don’t, at least you’ll have made the effort.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read the Daily Prophet. The Quibbler is much better.

Get to know your parents. How else will you recognize their voices when you hear them from behind the veil?

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. This is true for both your imaginary friends and the ones you may meet in the real world – the later are all the more precious for being the most rare.

Live in New York City once – I’ve heard they have alligators in the sewers! Live in Northern California once – they say that people from other planets sometimes land there! Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Governments will lie. Dorm-mates will steal your things. If you think for yourself, you’ll be branded crazy. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, governments were honest, people left their dorm-mates’ things alone, individuality of thought was admired and children believed in wonders.

Believe in wonders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. In fact don’t expect anything. Except the unexpected.

Don't mess too much with your hair. Hats are much more fun.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of news. Dispensing it is a way of fishing a old story from the Archives, updating it, changing the names, the places and above all, the ending and reprinting it for a reader who can get more out of it.

But trust me on the faith.