The Quest Project® Manifesto
As a 20+ year retired Captain of the United States Air Force it goes without saying I love my country and am proud to be an American!
Where else do you have the opportunity to be who you want to be, achieve your goals and debate your beliefs through freedom of speech.
My observation, we could use more positive; we should be reminded to respect and be respectful!
Life is What You Make It
Some of what I hear, see and read is negative. I feel there is a disproportionate focus on the negative. As a licensed professional counselor, I teach the importance of positive reinforcement in leading a healthy life.
I was abused as a kid by my alcoholic father, I am proof that you CAN overcome your circumstances and environment. I had to seek out a positive mentor in my life and not settle for the negative influence(s) of my dad. I joined the Air Force and served my country because I chose to; I love and appreciate my freedom. I achieved my goals and became a Doctor because I made the choice to work hard and stay focused.
By setting goals and creating my mission: “to create healthy lifestyles by teaching, facilitating, writing, research and example,” I can use the pain of my childhood as an example in helping boys become better men.
The Quest Project Manifesto
A manifesto is “a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer.”
I created the manifesto to reinforce and remind the men I work with of their responsibility and values!
Upon completion of the 10-week The Quest Project® program, participants declare their intention by reciting The Quest Project Manifesto©.
I hope you’ll take a minute, pause and read it aloud!
As a man among many, I will stand for something.
I will be strong when the world asks me to be strong.
And soft when the world needs me to be soft.
I will make progress, not excuses. I will earn the right to manhood. I will re-earn it.
I will respect women. And I will support my brothers.
We will confront our trauma. Deal with it. Move past it. Grow.
We won’t settle for the immaturity of boyhood, nor the toxicity imposed by society.
We will own our shit and strike the drum of manhood with consistency and resolve.
We will be ourselves, then prove ourselves.
This is my journey. This is our Quest.
We all have made covenants, taken oaths or made a pledge; as Americans we recite the “Pledge of Allegiance!” The common thread is they are a declaration of doing something.
It’s a powerful experience to be in a room with 15 to 20 men declaring their intention. It’s one of the things I’m most proud of!
I hope you’ll pass this on and….”pay it forward!”