{M} The non-manifesto manifesto

I was introduced to the concept of a personal mission statement at a corporate training years ago. At the time, I tried really hard to come up with a mission statement for my life. I failed.

Over the years, I’ve given it a try a couple of times. I’ve always failed.

Then I came across some awesome manifestos (like my personal favorite, the Holstein manifesto). While I found some of them inspiring, I never could come up with one that was ME.

This inability to come up with a manifesto for my life has made me feel like a failure of sorts.

It took a very wise man – the husband, in fact – to show (or rather tell) me why I have always failed at it.

The reason is simple. So simple that I feel like a fool for not seeing it for myself.

I simply don’t believe in having one.

Let me tell you why.

Life, I believe, is a journey. At its simplest, it’s a journey from birth to death. Along the way we undertake a number of journeys where we meet numerous people – some of who journey with us our entire lives, others who journey with us for a short while.

Along this journey we come across things that we enjoy doing. Some people find one passion and stick with it all their lives. Others find numerous interests that they pursue for different lengths of time. It’s all part of this journey called life. It’s all good.

Life is complicated and stressful enough as it is. To complicate it further by having a manifesto that you may not always be able to live by is pointless.

Instead, my philosophy on life is much simpler – be curious, be willing to learn. Do what you enjoy doing. If you get tired of something, drop it. Pick up a different hobby instead. Live life authentically. Not how people say you should; rather how you feel you should. If you aren’t enjoying the journey, if you aren’t feeling happy most of the time, what is the point of it all anyway? It’s your life. One life. Make it count – to you.

Now that’s a philosophy (or should I call it a manifesto?) that I can live by!