My Womanifesto

My Womanifesto: by Lahni

I am a woman.

I am a lady,
I will not, however, always behave like one.

I will cry when I am sad, when I am being hugged, when I'm scared, bleeding, overwhelmed, excited, full of joy, and hysterical, I will.
I will dance in the kitchen like a fool without fear of being ridiculed by anyone who walks in and sees me watching myself through the windows.
I will laugh with my entire body & often times when it is entirely inappropriate to do so.
I will get upset often and get my feelings hurt just as much,
but I will smile just the same(again, sometimes when it's not called for).
I will feel the aches of my hurting heart.
I will heal with time and love.

My right is to sing loudly, really obnoxiously loudly, in the shower.
My right is to wear cute push-up bras, because they make me feel sexy(totally just kidding, kinda).
My right is to put, '(totally just kidding, kinda)', after any statement that I'm not really totally just kidding about, not even kinda.
My right is to spend over two hours getting ready one day and then sporting 'crazy' hair the next.
My right is to go more than two days without shaving,
my right is to wear jeans on those days, or not.
My right is to spray the whole bottle of perfume on me.
My right is to inspire deafen people with my music by turning it up just a little too much and rolling my windows down.
My right is to interpretive dance in parking lots with my friends to Celine Dion. Ladies, you know who you are, and we will stay forever this way(no pun intended).
My right is to indulge in a whole bag of PB m&m's, seriously, it's my right to clog my arteries,okay?
My right is to paint my nails with wild colors and patterns.
My right is to wear that polish chipped.
My right is to be a fabulous lover.
My right is to be the best sister, girlfriend, daughter, cousin, baby-sitter, friend, I can be(even though that doesn't always happen).
My right is to watch all 9 seasons of One Tree Hill more than once.
My right is to lie and say I'm gonna stop eating PB m&m's and go for a run.
My right is to tell myself I'm gonna get fat if I don't stop lying.
My right is to put together cute,maybe kinda out there, outfits.
My right is to be happy, actually, overly happy, kinda like the guy who sounds much too happy through the intercom thingy when he takes my coffee order every morning. Thank you, I know I'm at McDonalds, no need to welcome me.
My right is to be rude.
My right is to be nicer.
My right is to love deeply.
My right is to be enthusiastic and silly.
My right is to be terrified.

I will always search and look beyond what I feel and see, because it is not my right to be comfortable.

I will lay behind all standards that don't belong to me.
I will dance freely, doing leaps down the isles of Wal-Mart.
I will embarrass myself, but enjoy doing it.

No longer will I miss out because it's safer to do so.
I will jump in, fearless.

No longer will I dwell on my past.
No longer will I define my worth by the way someone else tries to dictate my feelings.
I am perfectly whole, despite the way I am imperfectly filled.
No longer will I look in the mirror with disdainful eyes.
No longer will my sexuality be something that can be taken away from me, claimed by the eyes of others, it will be given by me, or not at all.
No longer will I be ashamed of the mold I do not fit. I am different. Different is beautiful.
No longer will I compare myself to others.
I have come far.
No longer will I be unforgiving.
Life is too short.

Today is beautiful because I am breathing.
Tomorrow is too.

I am a hoarder of make-up, I am a dancer, I am a writer, a lover, a fighter, a listener, a hipster, a laugher, a cryer, a wild card, a nerd, a gypsy, a follower, a leader, a Jesus lover, a dreamer, a clown, a lady. A woman.

It is my right, a gift, to never choose or commit to just one. I own them all.

Life is a gift, an opportunity to discover who I am, who I am created to be & to take on this day unashamed of all that makes me me.

I embrace my imperfections.
I embrace the letter B on all of my bras.
I embrace my fair skin and hips, even though it can be hard.
I embrace my sensitive stomach,
and my even more sensitive soul.
I embrace my willpower and determination.
I embrace my skepticism and optimism.
I embrace my passion and my compassion.
I embrace my need to do more, see more, and be more.
I embrace my craziest dreams.
I embrace my fragile and vulnerable heart.
I embrace my body, every inch.
I embrace all that makes me asymmetrical.

I will be inappropriate. I will stare, I will gossip, I will offend. And I will be judged for that.
But I will not allow these flaws to hold me back or define me. I will apologize and strive yet again for a kind heart and gentle(but crazy)spirit that might relay to the lives of others.

I will not give up. I will not settle.

I am a woman. I am me.