Manifesto for A Wild & Precious Life
This is your one wild and precious life. Let go and let live.
Quit making everything so complicated. Just STOP IT. It’s really simple once you quiet the doubt and insecurities. Listen for the wise, assured voice within, who sometimes sounds a little bit like Oprah.
Remember that the antidote to stress, paralysis or overwhelm is to DO. And then do something else, again and again. It is only through movement that you will find what you are looking for. Begin now, from right where you are.
Fear shallow living, not the depths. Jump on the emotional rollercoaster that is the full range of the human experience. Let the heights make you soar and let the lows crack you open.
Define your own vision of success. Joy. Health. Authenticity. Connection. Community. Love. They will make you far richer than gold.
Ask every single person you meet at least one question. Get to know their story. Don’t be afraid to ask the questions that will push them them– and you– to think about your true, most beautiful selves. Listen– really listen– and learn from them.
Life is not a competition, it is a collaboration. When you stop looking at situations with the mindset of “what do I have to prove?” you become open to seeing what we can all build together, and how another’s talent can inspire and grow your own.
Nurture your muse with regular doses of color, passion and beauty. Continue to make books, films and music your indulgence of choice. Wear a dress when you feel like wearing jeans, say yes when logic makes you want to say no. Seek no one’s permission but your own.
Document a life unfolding– through photos, through art, through writing. Capture the moments that make your heart double in size, whether they be as big as the Eiffel Tower or as small as the petals of a flower. Become a voracious collector of experiences and cherished moments, not belongings. Make your life your greatest work of art.
Listen to your body and nourish it accordingly. Most of the time, this means vibrant greens, lean and clean proteins, and whole grains– “health is wealth,” after all. But sometimes this will mean a monster size bowl of homemade macaroni and cheese– and that’s okay, because you know that you’ll ENJOY THE LIVING HELL out of it. Savor it all with gratitude.
Use the good china for PB&J sandwiches; wear diamond studs to the grocery store. Buy yourself flowers; remember a loved one’s favorite treat and surprise them with it. Say I love you for no reason; smile at strangers.
When you lose touch with your spirit, stop. Make a cup of tea, take a scathingly hot shower. Sit by the shore and watch the waves undulate, washing away your worries with every rise and fall of the tide. Inhale peace, exhale tension.
Believe in the power of your dreams; fight for them. If you don’t, no one else will. Find the glorious union of inspiration and perspiration, and get lost in your work. In those moments where you feel yourself on fire, do whatever you can to stoke those flames.
Let the world be your teacher. Learn from travel, from relationships, from injustice, and especially from mistakes. Never stop looking for the lessons and opportunities for growth.
Make it your mission to leave everything– people, the planet, hearts and homes– in better condition than you found them.
Dance with passion. Drink joy. Hunger for wonder. Hold hands with your dreams. Laugh at adversity. Cry over beauty. Make love to your life.
Your life is a story. Ask yourself regularly, are you happy with the tale you’re telling?
{image via Amanda Woodward}
