Personal Manifesto

After discussing Bruce Mau, and reviewing his manifesto in class this week, I’ve been asked to create my own personal manifesto. I’ve come up with the following 11 points based on “rules” I try to live by. It’s not always a success, but these ideas are always in the back of my mind. I’m sure that as soon as I post this there will be more points that I will want to add. So for now we’ll consider this my first attempt with the guarantee that this list has yet to be completed, but is a good place to start.

1. Show emotion
When something’s funny, laugh. If you feel sad, cry. Don’t deny yourself from experiencing what you feel.

2. Say what you mean, and do what you say you are going to do.
I’m sure I’ve read that somewhere but I can’t recall the source. Basically the idea is don’t lie and don’t make false promises. People will begin to lose trust in you.

3. Make the important people in your life feel special.
Why not?

4. Learn the names of those you see every day.
If you are interacting with the same people almost everyday learning their names is likely a good idea. (Neighbours, co-workers, classmates, teachers, etc.)

5. Make your own fun.
Any situation can become a “good-time”, the experience depends on what you put into it.

6. “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” William Morris
Thank you William Morris, I couldn’t agree more. I sometimes lean more towards the beautiful side, often purchasing things that have little use, other than that they make me happy, that must count for something.

7. People watch.
That’s right, check people out. Watch for amusing behaviors, and listen for interesting conversations. It can be delightfully inspiring, shocking, amusing, and irritating.

8. Get out of your house.
Explore your neighbourhood/city. Visit local shops, restaurants, bars. Listen to live bands. Don’t be afraid to dance (even if one of your friends makes fun of you, and later insists that your behavior was pathetic). In the end you might have a good story to tell.

9. Design/draw as if no one is watching.
Basically I feel this way about making art or design. At some point you just have to stop worrying about what other people are going to think of it and just do what you want.

10. Make things yourself.
Obviously you can’t make EVERYTHING, but make something that you think you’ll like. For example it’s nice when someone says, “cool shirt.” And you can say, “Thanks I made it.”

11. Fall in love.
Fall in love with a person, and a pet, and a job, and a hobby, and a home. Be passionate about the things that you do, if you don’t love it, not even a little, leave it.