Man-i-fes-to: noun mid 17th century, from Italian manifestare ‘make public’
- A public declaration of policy and aims, often political (Google Dictionary)
- Published declaration of intentions, motives, goals, views of an individual, group, political party or government. (Wikipedia)
I bet you’re wondering why a simple author from Cartersville, Georgia would have a manifesto. Well, it’s simple, when I started this create a website, have a public face for your readers- I did A LOT of research. That’s one of the things I love to do. I research, research a bit more, and then research even more and then I proceed.
Sometimes, it’s hard for me to move forward to the actual work, because I love the research part so much. However, in this instance, I’m glad I researched, because it helped me stumble across the need for a manifesto.
So, after more research into manifestos… I decided to make my own.
It was fun and a creative time for me. I was able to really think about the words and what they mean to me as not just as an author, but a human being as well.
It had the obvious words of WRITE, WRITE, WRITE, Dream Big, Breathe, but I also was able to include some more unusual phrases:
Fall down seven, get up eight
A quote I ran across last year that really stuck with me. It’s a Buddhist saying and it reminds me to get back up every time I fall, no matter the number. I love how simple and elegant the phrase is.
KEEP YOUR HEAD HIGH & YOUR HEELS WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE IT
I modified this quote because I don’t wear high heels every day. Growing up, I had fibromyalgia from the age of 14 to 30. High heels were not an option for me. I was the only girl at my prom in flats. While God healed me of my fibromyalgia, this quote reminds me it’s okay to be comfortable and no matter what shoes I’m wearing- hold my head high.
Don’t Settle for Average
I hate being average, just like everyone else. I know that it’s unavoidable for some things, but I want to stand out, be unique, dare to be more. My life, my walk with God has been about being more than average. I want more, I want unique, I want different. Thankfully, God has taught me that He gave me those feelings and he wants that for me too, especially with my relationship with Him. Don’t Settle for Average isn’t just a motto for work, but a motto for my relationship with my creator, my daddy, my loving Savior.
MOVE ON–
Simple but powerful. If you know my history, and some of the “trials” I’ve dealt with in my life, you’d know I have a lot in my past I could dwell on- for days, months, years! I choose NOT to dwell on my past, but to deal with it and MOVE ON.
Truth is, most of the people in my life who have hurt me the most, are people who didn’t MOVE ON from the pain, the hurt, the evil, but let it sit inside their hearts until it ate at their souls.
They are miserable, and I chose to MOVE ON because I don’t want to be like them. I’m not saying it’s easy, I’ve had years of therapy, and good people to help me out. BUT it’s your choice to get help. I did, and I hope my readers, if you have things in your past to deal with, please find help.
DREAM BIG, LOVE BIGGER
I agonized over this one, because the grammar/analytic side of me said it wasn’t correct English, but the artist in me knew it had a purpose. Always dream big! Dream about things you want and need, but might never get. Dream about little things, big things. BUT DON’T let your dreams keep you from loving God more. Loving people more. Don’t forget that God gives us dreams, but those dreams aren’t meant to replace the people He’s placed in your life.
I could go on and on, but instead I want you to know each word was placed for a purpose and NOT just to fill up the page. I handpicked and laid out this manifesto for the purpose of knowing myself better and to let you, the reader see a bit into my world.
If you have a chance, create your own manifesto! It was fun and rewarding. You don’t have to do it in a computer program, hand draw, sketch, cut out magazine photos- just make sure every image/word you place has meaning to you and your calling.
Once you’ve created your own manifesto- please put it in the comments below. I’d love to learn more about my readers as well.
Until next time, may God’s grace surround you,
