Today is a very special day. Because I decided it should be.
Life After Tampons is 41 days old.
Just a wee little pup — with so much potential.
I wanted to mark this day with a declaration of intention, for the year to come.
A (Wo)Manifesto.
The theme? VISIBILITY. Being seen. Being heard. Being valued. Being anything but invisible.
But I realized that this (Wo)Manifesto isn’t mine to write, alone.
It’s ours.
And so, in the spirit of sisterhood, celebration + shining bright lights on the big things to come,
will you write this bad-ass atom-bomb of brilliance with me?
Here’s how to play:
Fill-in-the-blank below, by leaving your declaration in the comments by MARCH 25th.
This year, I will be SEEN. Really seen.
Honored. Appreciated. Cherished. Respected.
I might raise a few eyebrows. I’m A-OK with that.
And I’ll demand visibility by _____________________.
I’ll pull as many declarations as I can into a smokin’ hot digital poster, and reveal the finished (Wo)Manifesto on APRIL 1st (no foolin’). It’ll also be available as a desktop wallpaper, for your computer or iPad. Pretty cool.
We’re burning daylight — so GO GO GO!
(I can’t WAIT to see the hotness + bravery that streams from your hearts).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Love, Jennifer
Photo: Flickr, parkermichaelknight
Stepping into and owning my POWER.
yep! I need to do that too. Well, i need to do it again and again.
…by openly enjoying both my 2nd childhood (silly, playful, always-learning, always-stumbling Me) and my internal crone (who’s getting brave enough to openly offer up bits of the wisdom I’ve earned through 63 years of living).
P.S. I love the raising eyebrows part. How dare we be so bold as to enjoy our older age? Ta-da… here we ARE, folks!
Kate, from someone who is also in her second childhood, I love your response!
I love the contrast between the two images, child and crone. Thank you both!
finally loosing that last 20 pounds. I will speak my truths, wait, I already do that! I will demand visibility by just being me and that is more than enough!
Those darn 20 pounds — they’re like the Christmas fruit cake — it just circles around and around between us.
… being proactive about my own destiny instead of waiting for something to fall from the sky into my lap. If it is to be … well, you know the rest.
That lap trap!!!
publishing my book about what it was like to grow up as a female handicapped by polio.
Wow, this is a biggie. I can’t wait to hear the story.
…. peeling away the bravado that has covered ‘me’ like a crusty, scaly coating. I’ve never had any trouble being heard, loudly and clearly and stridently, in my job as a radio host. I’ve been paid and encouraged to be ‘heard’. Now, I want to hear the essence of me; the me that isn’t performing; the calmer, introspective, wiser me. So, in order to be seen and to hear myself , I will be quiet…..
I can so relate to this. Some professions require us to develop strengths that we no longer require.
Never allowing (my inner) Baby to be put in the corner ever again.
This made me smile. I loved the Dirty Dancing imagery. Thanks.
. . . not compromising my integrity to make someone else comfortable or to avoid conflict.
. . . not apologizing for my strong opinion on matters I am well versed in.
. . . sharing my knowledge with the world.
. . . commenting on LAT’s blog and not worrying who might see what I have to say or being concerned about what they might think. :OP
AMEN!
I especially like that last one, Tina! You GO, girl!
Awesome, especially that last one!
By following my heart and intinct in everything I do. By not compromising when my gut tells me something is right, even if it means taking a risk.
Thank you for this important message about compromise. We women often give too much of ourselves up under the pretense of compromise.
I will speak my truth by writing my book ” The Light Doesn’t get any Greener Bitch”….. look out my friends.. I have a voice and I will use in all areas of my life!!!
Thank you for the LOL comment!!! Now, go write!
sitting in the front row instead of hiding in the back…..
Heidi, as an ex-teacher I just had to say this… In your new position in the classroom of life, you’re going to be First In Class!
Plus, don’t you just find that it’s impossible to see and hear from the back of the room, now?
Jennifer, you’re too funny!
(and yet, that’s too true)
By living simply, patiently and compassionately in this time of consciousness awakening and connecting with all the Wise Women I can so that we can play on this journey of awakening together! Nameste’!
Lovely. Thank you!
Accepting who I am. As a nurse, continuing to help those in need, to lend a voice, (my voice) to millions of patients whose voice cannot be heard. I am invisible as a nurse and a woman. Empowerment will be my destiny!
I hope if I ever need a nurse, I get you, teresa.
Remembering that I am the author of my life and I make my own decisions in my own time. I can do whatever I want to do. What you think of me does not matter at all.
Wow. What she (Marian) said . . .
Yep. Which, by the way, makes me think the WORLD of you — not that it matters, though. tee hee.
By never playing a victim again. My new power is illuminated by a Spiritual source.
amen. amen, amen.
Rocket launching my blog… no matter how SCARED SILLY I feel and ‘cos I REALLY REALLY want to SHARE and CARE from my BIG BEAUTIFUL HEART…. BIG TIME!
Watch out world! There’s a whopping WAVE of WOMEN with the WOW FACTOR heading our way! WooHoo – Go get em Girls:-)
I’m in!!!
By opening my dream of a clubhouse for women…a place for them just to be who they were created to be.
I want to come. And have a soda and chat.
By not hiding my passion for what I do– teach and write– even if ME getting passionate embarrasses others!
Thank you, love. I’m all about passion.
• being recognized for what i am … i am not a lady, i am a loud and colorful girl.
• dancing in the street, by singing out loud.
• being the girl on stage and not the audience in the seats in front of the stage.
i don.t care anymore if somebody might be afraid of me for what i am … i won.t hang my brain and knowledge together with my jacket in the wardrobe … no no never!
if you can’t cope with me … than just leave me alone … i don.t need the advices anymore which only purpose is to chop me up and degrade me!
And then I need to remember that I’m mine own best guru, and while I can and do seek counsel, ultimately, I probably know best anyway!!
mining my own authenticity and manifesting it with gusto…then putting on my sunglasses in awe of the brilliance that brings out in me… and not worrying if it is going to blind someone else! Get out your sunglasses sisters — and SHINE!
I loved the sunglasses thing!
By dancing to the soundtrack of my life (and in doing so, losing the last 40 lbs of baby fat!) And incedently, sharing that soundtrack with the world so that they can realize how awesome I am really am!
I wanna dance, too.
…by taking beautiful care of myself, first.
Saying what needs to be said, asking the questions I want the answers to.
Collecting my dreams and making them real.
Nice. Lovely. “beautiful care of yourself.” I want to do that, too.
By copping alot of “attitude”: LOVE/SURRENDER/GRATITUDE
Nice.
I will take my creativity to a new level by being a risk taker. No longer will I say my photography, art, stories are not good enough to sell or be published. I will stop being my own worst enemy. I will do things for me, and others, but look after myself better. I will look for the humor in all situations, well I do this now, but I will not be afraid to share it, no matter how warped! Exercise and eat better and loose my extra pounds. I can do this!!!!!!
Yes you can!!! We’ll do it together.
This year, I will be SEEN. Really seen: by myself, as I have disappeared into an expectation called ‘step’ that no one else wants to see, I have allowed their malaise to infect me.
Honored. Appreciated. Cherished. Respected: even when all 4 seem dependent on ‘other’, I will find a way to wrestle them away and Count.
I might raise a few eyebrows. I’m A-OK with that, as long as I am living it my way, I will choose to interpret eyebrows raised as ‘oh yeah! wish I would have thought of that!’
And I’ll demand visibility by _being authentic, less visible to those who don’t see and more visible to me. Recovering whose vision matters…damn, I was blind!
Let’s go, Wisdom circle! I am so grateful for you and so need you, now! Thank you for…this!
I love the “raised eyebrow reinterpretation!” I never thought of it that way. Thank you!
* living the life I’ve always wanted ! I will not be a lemming and follow the miserable herd.
* taking chances and trying new things no matter what others think of them. Remembering there is no failure in trying new things, only standing on the sideline paralyzed by fear.
* laughing freely & enjoying life -this is not a dress rehearsal!
Awesome! I’m in!
“nurturing, expanding and sharing the giant within in service to all of humanity”
I always forget that “nurturing” part — thanks.
*taking my life back from those who have been using it
*studying to be either a Wiccan or Voodoo Priestess
Nice!!!!!! Totally cool. It goes with the shoes, too.
….by leaving behind identities that no longer fit (widow, girlfriend, waitress) and embracing newer, more empowering ones: student, single, writer, health coach. It’s long past time to come into my own, pursue my passions, find out who I am without a man to define me, and boldly live my truth.
I LOVE the part about new identities. Go you. And, I’m sorry for your loss, too.
Relentless self-compassion and letting my soul lead
*I love this conversation, Jennifer. Inspiring and gorgeous. Thank you!*
by stepping into, and shining, clearly, calmly and brightly WHO I am and not apologizing for ANY of it.
Hey, babe. Thanks for letting me know you were missing. The internet gremlins spammed you and who knows why — there’s not a SINGLE porn word in your message. Try harder next time. Love, J
finishing my book, “How to Fake Cancer for Fun and Profit, a story of death and friendship” and complete the outline for “Psychosis for Dummies”. Both of which tell my story of a “terminal cancer” diagnosis, the drugs, the people, the lessons I learned.
I am not a survivor, I am a WARRIOR WOMAN (who believes in love, peace and Blessings)!!!
I love your titles — AND your Warrior Woman spirit. I’m so happy you found our little space in the internet.
… by choosing to live outside the box. Who really knows what “normal” is anyway? Maybe I am the normal one and everyone else is missing the boat!!!!
I think you are, Debi. I’d like to catch the boat this time around.
If I love someone, I will tell them why and how much. If I see a stranger who rocks her haircut, I’ll tell her how beautiful she looks. If someone drops his disgusting cigarette butt on the ground, I will ask him to pick it up. If someone tells an offensive joke, I will tell them I am insulted. I will smile at passersby, I will sing as loud as I want in my truck, I will dance when the spirit moves me, where ever I am.
No more timid, solitary me!
Nice. I like the bold moves. I’m interested to hear how the cigarette butt and uncool joke responses go.
Dare to be great.
Dare to be powerful beyond measure.
Dare not to be the “you” that was told to be quiet, and comply
Go daring, non-compliant you!!!
by BEING utterly and truly my God-given self, by DECIDING never to be jealous of anyone, by CHOOSING to fully support the gifts and success of others, by DECLARING my splendor & brilliance through how I interact with the world, by CONNECTING meaningfully & purposefully, by LOVING what actually is instead of insisting it be any different, by ALLOWING peace and happiness to remain in my heart, by PASSING on distractions & interferences that take me from my path, by EXPOSING the lies & fears that used to have me bound, by EMBRACING my power to change lives for the better, and by INSISTING on being visible first and foremost to MYSELF!
Do you mind if I memorize and commit myself to this? A great wo-manifesto that to me, says it all!
Realizing that I do have value — at this age, at this stage, and with all my worldly experiences and knowledge. Well, such as they are. But I will learn what that value is to me and how to build on it. Because girlfriend(s), you have no idea how badly I needed to find this site….and get this education.
..By giving MYSELF permission to be all of those things. I will be seen and heard because I Will stand on that stage or at the front of that room with the women who most need to hear that the conventional wisdom is keeping us sick, hitched to a never ending wagon of pharma-wares, and frustrated by being told, “It’s just what happens at your age.” BULL! It becomes clearer every day that that the stories we allow to hold us back from our full expression means that others are not served, saved, savored, or supported. I will do my part to show up.
I know it’s passed 3/25 but leaving my comment anyway
First of all I love this >> (Wo)Manifesto!
Okay so here’s my intentional declaration:
And I’ll demand visibility by “being fierce, creative, and letting of the old that no longer serves/identifies/encourages me!”
Large and in charge baby! LOL
~Kesha