manifesto

some notes on how i try to engage with life, work and the internet

life manifesto

1. be present
   the world moves fast, but you don’t have to. put your phone down. listen to the person in front of you. notice the details: the way light falls, the sounds of the forest, the taste of your tea. presence is a practice, not a destination.


2. cultivate curiosity
   ask questions. about everything. why things work, why people believe what they believe, why you feel the way you do. curiosity keeps the world alive and your mind open. read books outside your comfort zone. talk to strangers. stay hungry to learn.


3. build slowly
   relationships, skills, habits—they all take time. reject the myth of overnight success. show up consistently. trust the process. celebrate small wins. growth is a garden, not a sprint.


4. embrace imperfection
   you are definitely going to mess up sometimes. that’s how you learn. perfection is a myth. do the thing badly at first. keep going. progress > perfection.


5. give freely
   compliment someone’s work. share what you know. offer help without expecting anything in return. generosity creates connection, and connection is what makes life rich.


6. create rituals
   rituals anchor you. morning coffee without screens. a weekly walk in the woods. cooking a meal from scratch. lighting a candle when you need to focus. rituals turn chaos into rhythm.


7. protect your energy
   not everything deserves your attention. say no to what drains you, say yes to what fuels you. surround yourself with people who inspire you, not those who exhaust you. rest is not laziness; it’s necessary. also: you don't have to justify your choices to other people.


8. take the stairs
   staying healthy is important. staying healthy doesn't have to be difficult. it starts with small things. take the stairs whenever possible.

work manifesto

1. do meaningful work
   seek projects that align with your values. if your work feels empty, ask why. meaning fuels motivation — don’t settle for mindless tasks.


2. your worth isn’t your work
   you are not your job. your value isn’t tied to your title, your productivity, or your boss’s opinion. work is what you do, not who you are.


3. set boundaries
   work will take everything you give it. define your limits. Leave on time. say no to unnecessary meetings. protect your time, energy, and sanity.


4. know when to walk away
   no job is worth your health or dignity. if a workplace is toxic, if you’re undervalued, or if your values are compromised—leave. there are always other opportunities.


5. collaborate, don’t compete
   lift others up. share credit. ask for help. celebrate your team’s wins. work isn’t a zero-sum game — success is collective.


6. leave it better
   whether it’s a project, a team, or a workspace, aim to leave things better than you found them. mentor someone. document your process. clean up the messes you see. legacy is built in small acts.

internet manifesto

1. visit websites
   obvious, but increasingly rare. big platforms want you to stay in their walled gardens. resist that. there’s a whole world out there. start with the links page of a site you love.


2. use bookmarks
   found something good? bookmark it. return to it. revisit the sites you love regularly. it’s a satisfying alternative to the endless social scroll — and your brain will thank you.


3. tell your friends
   share the good stuff. if you have a site, make a links page. send a link to a friend who might like it. even people who aren’t very online love stumbling onto a great corner of the web. sharing is still caring.


4. subscribe to rss
   want content to come to you? use rss. it’s underhyped and incredibly useful - especially when you’re on your phone looking to scroll something. try an open source reader such as netnewswire.


5. make and share stuff
   if this way of being online speaks to you, consider adding to it. make a website. it’s easier than you think, and your presence helps keep the web alive. need help? steal my code, or send me an email.


6. send emails
   social media isn’t the only way to be social online. email still works. if someone lists an e-mail address on their site, they probably want to hear from you. like what they made? tell them. you might even start a conversation.


7. moderate intake
   don’t aim to recreate infinite scroll. engage with what you care about, then stop. when the web feels full, close the tab. go outside. read a book. call a friend. touch grass. the internet isn’t everything.