Change!

I'll be deleting these posts in a couple weeks but I'll let you know where to read the entire manifesto if you are interested. Thanks for saying nice things. I'm just trying to be a better person, and I think that writing all of this down is helping:


Don’t let other people’s perception of who you are imprison you. Change! Change! Change! And when you do, and you will, be self-satisfied with your progression. Don’t have expectations about your friends or acquaintances catching on immediately. It takes awhile for people to notice that someone isn’t who they used to be. But if you allow yourself to do just that, the applause will come in time. Be whoever you are right now and forget about who you were. Please don’t be afraid that people don’t want you to be different. There will always be people who long for the past, but by setting an example of flexibility and adaptability, you are capable of inspiring them to follow your lead. Evolution informs every second of our lives. Embrace it. Change! Change! Change!

Read. All the time. Nothing will aid your evolution more.

Write things down. Write love letters, great emails, stories, poems, songs, articles, novels. Writing serves at least three purposes (probably more like 300):
a. it clarifies your brain,
b. it helps you remember things you would otherwise forget,
c. it aids understanding between people.
I think the last purpose is especially important, which is why I suggest that you share at least some of your writing. That understanding that someone can glean from what you write -- remember, honestly! -- will often allow them to relate to you better than you could have imagined and experience the glorious truth that we’re all a lot more alike than we are different. I don’t believe that writing is an occupation for a gifted or special set of people. Writing is essential to a full existence, like music and kissing.

Manifesto.

This is the very beginning of something that's going to be pretty epic when I'm done.

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A GIRL'S MANIFESTO : March 20 2008 : Part One

Be candid. Honesty is more attractive than any attempt to be attractive. Tell people what you like about them. Tell people when they hurt your feelings. Tell people you want to kiss their face, or that you love them, or that they make you feel like a crazy person. Speak directly and simply. Argue when it matters. Don't try to be or play it cool. Start by telling everyone about your manifesto and don't bother with a long disclaimer. Your honesty will inspire others to do the same and put everyone's intentions and feelings on the table, all the time. Ask for what you want instead of taking what you get. The answer might be 'yes,' and if it isn't you're better off knowing now. Get used to talking without trying to make people laugh. Don't leave anything out with the people that matter and don't bother with people who don't. Establish honesty as a given when you make new friends. Admit your mistakes and request that others apologize for theirs. Don't confuse honesty with being self-effacing or embarrassing yourself -- honesty includes all of the good things as well as the bad ones. Maintain dignity! Don't confuse gossip with honesty, either. Telling your own secrets is okay; telling other people's isn't. Honesty isn't negativity, cruelty, or narcissism. Listening can be just as honest as talking. Don't confuse simple, reasonable honesty with radical silliness. There is no reason to try to articulate blurry feelings or over-explain every detail The point is to be honest instead of internalizing, not to try to extract juicy confessionals out of everyday life. And remember: saying something out loud can sometimes make it true, rather than the other way around. Proceed cautiously, but let. it. out.

Say yes. Your intuition is excellent. If something is available, safe, and appealing... do it! Dessert, Cranium with strangers, dinner with a coworker you've never seen outside of the workplace but love talking to, a show or a movie by yourself, the poetry game: YES. Life is too short to wonder what you might have missed.

On the flip side, say no sometimes. To things you don't really want to do. Don't obsess about missing out if a night at home seems more appealing than a party or the bar. Missing out could just as easily be feeling miserable or tired 'out' when you could have been reading and listening to songs with your cat.

Make things: music, food, stuffed animals, mixtapes, paintings, clothes, comics, robots, zines, manifestos, websites, movies, toys, sculptures, cupcakes, love, and tools. Don't do it because you think you should or to make money, do it because it will make you really, really, really happy. Everytime you see, use, give away, hear, eat, smell, sell, touch, or just think of smething you have made with your own hands, head, or heart, you will love yourself. Infinitely.

Don't drink cokes, smoke cigarettes, or eat food from convenience stores. But if you do those things, don't hate yourself for it. There are worse things you could do to yourself -- like not sleeping, not reading, or not demanding that people treat you with respect.

Encourage your friends to realize their potential and value themselves as much as you value them. Push them. Don't be afraid to tell them what you believe them to be capable of -- whether it's writing the great American novel, being a great mom, dumping the asshole, or ending a war. Applaud grandiosity. There's a reason you chose them. They're good for more than just drinking buddies. Help them and use them to help yourself. Rely on each other and do great things. Create a community. Never ever roll your eyes at someone you love.

Don't be afraid to be cheesy. The best things in life are easily ridiculed -- like this.

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Much more to come, in a different format, at which time this post will most likely be deleted. For now, keep that shit in mind, yo.