We're still basking in the hot sun, bronzing our bodies in tanning beds, and playing outdoors without slathering on the sunscreen. What will it take, I wonder, for our society to catch on, to take real steps toward preventing skin cancer?

It seems education isn't enough. Most of us know by now all it takes is one bad sunburn to increase our risk of skin cancer, yet we continue to collect burn after burn after burn. Perhaps like all habit-forming behaviors -- think smoking -- it takes something tragic in our lives to inspire change. When someone we know gets lung cancer after a lifetime of smoking or someone we know develops melanoma after years of sunbathing, maybe we get the hint. Maybe

Now, I know you don't personally know this young woman -- she calls herself Miss Melanoma -- but I suggest you read her story. And I recommend you take what happened to her -- she lost part of her foot to melanoma and is currently battling a spread of the disease -- and allow it to really sink in, allow it to motivate you to take cover from the sun, before something like this happens to you. Because it can.

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation recently revamped it's entire campaign landscape. There's been a name change -- Susan G. Komen for the Cure -- and an infusion of more than $1 million into advertising, and a logo redesign, and a whole slew of new slogans intended for magazines and websites and billboards and t-shirts.

These changes mark the 25-year anniversary of one woman's gift to her sister, Susan G. Komen, who lost her battle with breast cancer at the age of 36. This gift -- the now powerful Susan G. Komen for the Cure -- is most known for its Komen Race for the Cure, a nationwide fundraising and awareness campaign featuring races attended by more than one million participants.

Soon, this group may be known for even more.

Sister Nancy G. Brinker, a breast cancer survivor herself, says, "It's high time we took ownership of the strides we've made and declare our uncompromising commitment."

Brinker's declarations are flying. Some people think they are offensive. Others disagree. I won't share my opinion on this Thought for the Day just yet -- because I don't want to sway any opinions. But I'd love to hear your take on this Komen approach to stamping out breast cancer.

Think about this:

Some print and poster ads will feature a woman wearing a tank-style undershirt that says, "When we get our hands on breast cancer, we're going to punch it, strangle it, kick it, spit on it, choke it and pummel it until it's good and dead. Not just horror movie dead but really, truly dead. And then we're going to tie a pink ribbon on it."

Another ad states, "We only focus on one thing. Or, depending on how you look at it, two."

Another states, "If you're going to stare at my breasts, ... you could at least donate a dollar to save them."

Oh my goodness! Hats off to Sandy Thorn Clark who has published a feature, The power of pink, that is uber-pink. If your mother likes pink, and you want to celebrate Mother's Day in all-things-pink, you will find plentiful pointers on how to go pink. Many events and activities have been creatively planned pink to celebrate Mother's Day and raise awareness for breast cancer at the same time. Even hunky baseball players will be swinging baby pink baseball bats for the day. Other than the obvious pink decorations, pink clothing, pink hats, pink wristbands, pink flowers and pink nail polish -- here are a few of Clark's pink suggestions to celebrate your mother:

• Easy to blend vitamin-rich pink smoothies with strawberries, pineapple, peaches, pears and vanilla yogurt. Or you could try a mix of strawberries, bananas, and apple-strawberry juice -- or raspberry, orange juice, strawberries and bananas. A pink milkshake can be made blending 2 cups milk, 1/2 cup raspberry jam and 3 to 4 scoops vanilla ice cream, garnished with fresh berries.
• Create pink cream puffs by mixing a small amount of raspberry puree or preserves into the whipped cream filling for cream puffs.
• A pink punch can be made for a group by mixing two 12-ounce cans pink lemonade concentrate and 6 cups water in a punch bowl. Add four 12-ounce cans lemon-lime soda. Just before serving, add scoops of strawberry sorbet or raspberry sherbet.
• Listen to the music of Pink and watch movies with pink titles such as Pretty in Pink or The Pink Panther. You get the idea.
  

But wait! There's more. These are not all the suggestions for going pink on Mother's Day. For more ideas or to be inspired by pink ideas of your own, go here.