Manifesto

I believe in karma. What you put out there is what you get back.  I struggle with this everyday.

I believe Jesus is the ultimate example of manhood, the ultimate outlaw renegade.  And he is the source of great comfort.  I believe in acting more like him and less worrying about what everyone else is up to.

I believe in evolving beyond the obvious, beyond the literal.

I believe relationships are what really matter in life.  They are all we have.  With others and with ourselves.  I also believe relationships are so hard to keep going.

I believe small spaces, including envelopes covered in scrawled notes, are the wellspring of creativity.

I believe in being authentic.  I also believe it is increasingly difficult to be authentic, though the word is increasingly trendy.  Some days I believe we are living in the most inauthentic of times.  Let’s take off the filters and the flower headbands.  If we really want to be authentic let’s talk about anger and fear and shame.

I don’t like the “don’t say anything unless you have something nice to say” mantra, yet I live by it.  I think this belief leads us all to need a lifetime of therapy sessions.

I believe parenthood is the hardest job there is.  At least once a week, and sometimes once a day, I fantasize about driving west to the ocean or east to the mountains.  All by myself.  And I question any parent who hasn’t had similar fantasies. It means we’re all in.

I have male/female double standards.  They are what they are.  We can’t escape everything.

I believe a person’s tears will lead them to their truth.

I believe music is Godly.

I believe the world “just” is a means to hold ourselves down, to give ourselves a safety net, to excuse ourselves from success.

I believe in celebrating joys and documenting struggles.  One without the other is nothing.

I believe we all want to be loved and accepted.  Without those two things we complicate life and fill voids. This has shaped history and will continue to do so.

I hate imposed modesty.  It has roots in shame and blame and control.

I believe the world right now is a shitshow.  Nevertheless, it is one of our own creation.

I don’t understand people who live without Faith.  Faith with a capital F.

I believe that we should replace “I’m so busy….” with “You’re just not on the top of my priority list…”  That’s called honesty.  And it’s not easy and it hurts, but it’s real.

I believe our bodies react to our home, for better or for worse.

I believe life is simple and complicated at the same time.  It’s messy and wonderful.

I believe in the freeing power of living an organized and decluttered life.

I believe in making your bed every single morning. It will set the tone for your day.

Life is short.  Scary short.

I believe the world needs more communicating and listening, and less talking.

I believe we are all creative beings.

I believe in the rage before the peace; the freak out before the calm.

I believe we get to know a person in an entirely different way after their death.  Call it perspective, or call it getting outside of our own heads, or seeing people without the filter of the struggles of our own lives. Or call it nostalgia.

I believe we can never truly escape where we come from.

I {like to} believe we are all doing the best can.  We all have different bests and different beasts and battles, and sometimes we go off the rails.

I believe it is only as an adult child that we can realize how much our actions and words and teachings and beliefs influence the next generation.  Scary real.

I believe in the restorative powers of Almond Joy candy bars, real Coke, and good sex.

I believe we are never too old to live the life we’ve always imagined.

I believe in being brave and showing up.  After parenthood it might be the hardest thing ever.

I believe humans are full of contradictions.

I believe in finding your voice.