Living well isn’t just about organic fruit.
Please go out there and do. Live. Don’t be the same as yesterday. Don’t live vicariously online. Don’t use language that has no meaning or talk ideas you don’t really live. Don’t hide. Don’t copy others or live their ideas or life. Don’t fear doing your thing. Don’t fear doing. Instead of reading a decorating magazine, paint that room. Instead of thinking of baking, do up a cake. Run, walk, bike. Put that self help book down and pick up yourself.
Let go of the snark, your worries, your anger and fear and give into possibility, action, joy and life. Do. Do some more. Stop thinking about you. Stop blogging about just you and your kid and your pet. There’s a world out there to connect to, really connect to and email doesn’t count. Being of use is more important than being popular. Think about the lady down the street, the person at the drive through, the man fallen in the street, about politics, the environment, healthcare, another country and then do something about it. Never stop at thinking.
Dream big, work harder. Have lots of fun, lift a finger, do something for someone else. Cheer your friends on. Cheer yourself up. Celebrate as much as possible. Enjoy everything. Right now. It’s OK to want more and do more but be present with where you are or who you are with. Don’t rush the situation - even if it’s bad. Move on when you can. Don’t settle. Try everything you can and get over everything holding you back.
Go outside. Go outside yourself. Make a difference, make some change. Don’t complain about someone unless you’re talking to that someone. Don’t complain about a situation you’re not willing to make better. They don’t have it better and you don’t have it worse. Don’t make excuses. You’ll never see possibility if you do. And you’re smart and worth more than settling for a life of complaining and limitation.
Hope. Hope more. Give someone else hope. Get healthy and contribute to a healthy environment. Think about everything you do, you buy, you say. Only be lazy on Sunday and even then, be conscious. Rest is useful, giving up is not.
Live with a light heart. Play more. Remember what it’s like to be seven. Remember to listen to a seven year old because you just have more words and life experience, not necessarily more wisdom. Have more questions than answers and don’t put everything into words. Sometimes just feel things and be. Be quiet more often, listen harder, talk exactly as you mean to.
Strive for your best and not what you think someone elses’ best is. Follow through. Don’t let others’ down. Don’t let yourself down. You are better than your circumstances. Ask for what you’re worth. Make magic happen don’t wish for it. Don’t envy others’ lives, envy yours. Live it fully. Teach by example how to live well, how to be treated, how to be kind, how to be alive.
Do. I can’t stress that one enough. Take action on your life. Make the change. No more sulking, waiting, thinking, reading, talking about. It’s time. You’re ready.
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In the spring of 2008 Apartment Therapy, San Francisco invited me to do a "Home Tour" of my vacation home in 
Despite all the talk about simplicity there are things that I still wish for. Some are simple and useful and some are just pure lust. But lists are good to have and share and you can see my lists at both 
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:19 pm
This is a wonderful reminder and so inspiring. Thank you!
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:44 am
Yes Yes! Such an inspiring post. Thank you for these really important reminders.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:38 am
Thanks, I needed that!
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:42 am
.thank you.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Love it! I want to post this on my wall is BOLD letters! Thanks!
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
[...] they are simple and brilliant and deserve to maintain their integrity - check out http://www.hyggehouse.com to view the complete blog. I would love to post this excerpt in big bold font on my wall. [...]
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
[...] they are simple and brilliant and deserve to maintain their integrity - check out http://www.hyggehouse.com to view the complete blog. I would love to post this excerpt in big bold font on my wall. [...]
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Amen.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:59 pm
I LOVED this. I even printed it out and stuck it up onthe bulletin board next to my desk. Completely resonated with me. Thank YOU for the inspiration:)
June 4th, 2008 at 5:43 am
Totally, totally agree. Brilliant.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:42 am
i absolutely LOVE this. thank you. thank you. thank you.
June 4th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
[...] Posted on June 4, 2008 by J This is fabulous post. Read it. Be it. Live [...]
June 5th, 2008 at 9:27 am
This is just what I needed to hear today. Thank you for your encouraging words.
June 8th, 2008 at 3:14 am
Thank you Alex, thank you. Lately i’ve been contemplating how to find joy and balance every day. I believe there are bits of it that can be found, some that we must discover through our own learning and getting out there, and then pieces of joy that can only be developed through our own actions. Still working on it, just curious if anyone else is seeking this…:)
June 9th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
This post has inspired me in so many ways! I loved it when I read it on your other site.
Thanks for writing such an amazing entry.
June 12th, 2008 at 5:49 am
[...] So while my job involves pounding at the keys and clicking, I’m learning to step away from the computer after hours and as Alex says: do. do. do. [...]
June 12th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
[...] long, long time. I came back energised, creative, and passionate about really connecting again and living my manifesto. It seems much easier to do when all the crap is removed from one’s head and all you have [...]
June 12th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Yes, yes, yes. ♥
June 12th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
But this just literally poured out (written as is) after really thinking about how I live and all the emails people send to me asking how do I live, how do I do it etc. And also with all the frustrations I have with people who just talk about things and never do them or just don’t live life or don’t do the right things because they think it’s too hard (it’s not). So thank you to everyone who responded to this. I call this my personal manifesto and if it suits you, you’re welcome to call it yours.
June 12th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Thank you Alex - this personal manifesto, along with a few other events, conspired to allow me to pick up and make a long needed change. I’m driving from California to Mid-Coast Maine and plan to spend the summer enjoying the slow, sweet pace of Camden. I’m soo excited both for the x-country travels and for the change of scenery.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Very inspiring…thank you!
June 13th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Amazing, inspring, and something I really needed to read. This one’s a keeper.
June 14th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
This was the most inspiring blog entry I have ever read! Thank you so much for sharing! I think I am gonna have to print a copy of this to pin to my cork board!
June 15th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Yes, I´m ready!!!
June 15th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
I needed this.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
One of the best blogs I have read in awhile… Thank you for sharing it with all of us…
June 18th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
[...] forward me a link to Dolly Parton’s “Better Get To Living” video after reading my manifesto. If you liked what I wrote, then here’s the theme [...]
June 19th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Lovely post, thanks!
June 25th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
I think this is my most favorite post of yours. I’m printing it out and will keep it forever. I love it. Thank you!
June 26th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
(found you through another blog) This was wonderful and profound. I love the thought you put into this. And I totally agree with everything here. I do appreciate being reminded, though.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:37 pm
[...] from Alex Beauchamp’s personal manifesto. If you are feeling inspired, read the whole entry here. Alex is amazing, thought provoking, [...]
September 26th, 2008 at 6:20 am
Thank you for this! I have this posted on my fridge as a daily reminder