Here is a little tidbit I wrote on the plane the other day. A manifesto, if you will. I hope you find it helpful, tribe.
“Follow” no one out of obligation. I mean on social media – or, in real life.
Wear what you want to wear.
Do what makes you happy without harming others.
Do what you say you’re going to do.
Stop over-apologizing, but for the love of coffee, say you’re sorry if you hurt someone or did something that requires apologizing.
Don’t apologize for who you are or for using your voice.
Read what you want to read rather than what you think you should read. F*ck “should.”
Be honest.
Be kind.
Don’t take advantage of other’s kindnesses.
Make up your own rules.
Don’t listen to the naysayers cuz there be a plenty.
Don’t wallow in your own suckery.
Do good things because you want to not so people will see just how very nice you are.
Believe in yourself or don’t. But I would. I really would.
Surround yourself with people who believe in you.
Like me. I believe in you.
Don’t worry so much. It gives you warts. Okay, not really, but it does nothing good.
Dance or bop your head or sing but do something, anything really, that puts rhythm in your body and reminds you: HEY! I’M ALIVE!!
Don’t forget you are alive.
You are not dead. Wake up.
Forget guilt. Bury that crap in the yard or out at sea. It stinks.
Be the person you want to be when you think of the very best most fantastic lovely and amazing version of you – be that.
You already are, but maybe you forgot because you’ve been beaten down or taken advantage of or you’ve been scrolling on Instagram too much or swiping on tinder or whatever it is that made you forget how awesome you are.
Don’t brush your hair, I don’t care. I still like you.
Quit your job, I’m still your girl.
Get a divorce, I’m still here.
Feel like you want to die because you’re so depressed, I ain’t going nowhere.
See – all the things that we think make us “not enough”- they don’t.
Pretty much the only thing that makes you an a**hole is when you’re an a**hole. So don’t be an a**hole.
Wear what you want wear.
Do what makes you happy without harming others.
Go forth in this big bad world and be a motherf*cking superstar. @JenPastiloff (Click to Tweet!)
I don’t know. I’m on a plane about to land in Detroit. I haven’t brushed my hair. I am wearing what I want to wear. I just ate carrot cake, cheese and leftover Mexican food because I decided it would be delicious together even though it makes no sense. I follow whoever I want and I don’t play by any rules except my own Jen Pastiloff wacky non-rules rules. Because the truth is, nothing makes sense, really. We’ve got to make our own sense and rules and style and voices and then we’ve got to stand by that as if it’s the only thing that makes sense in the whole entire world. Be free, yo.
Be free.
Eat carrot cake and pinto beans if you want to.
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I have a Dec 5th workshop in Los Angeles, finally! I will also be in Tampa and Vancouver in January. Make sure to give me a hug if you come. All workshops here. Also, my New Year’s Retreat in Ojai, Calif is almost sold out so book now here! I will be back at Kripalu in Feb, too. Join me on instagram at @jenpastiloff and @GirlPowerYouAreEnough. xoxo
Jen leads retreats that are a combo of yoga/writing and for ALL levels. Read this post to understand. Click here for all retreat listings and workshops to attend one in a city near you (Atlanta, NYC, St. Louis, London, Chicago & more, are next). Jen is the guest speaker 3 times a year at Canyon Ranch and leads an annual retreat to Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health every February, as well as an annual invite only retreat to Tuscany. She is the founder of the popular The Manifest-Station website. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter. She is the founder of Girl Power: You Are Enough.
