Throughout my teenage years, I’ve always been exploring. I’ve been searching for answers, searching for identity, and most importantly searching for happiness.

I have learned much from people better than I.

But teens, I believe, are in their own class. We aren’t just mini-adults. We have a complicated life in a changing world.

Some of us take drugs, cut ourselves, and even commit suicide. Many teens have anxiety and depression. We are growing less and less healthy (obesity is equivalent to our parent’s cigarettes).

Teens that avoid these things, still are often hurting. Many of us our insecure and bully others. We don’t know what we want in life. Simply put, many of us are confused.

I know I was confused, and sometimes still are. I was hurting, not in an extreme sense, but in a dull way. I felt like a zombie going through the day, trying to figure things out.

I seemed fine, but I just wasn’t satisfied. I wasn’t happy and I certainly wasn’t peaceful.

So I learned to become happy. To reduce clutter, to focus, to create, to eat natural, to wake early, to exercise, think positive, to mediate, to be content. And slowly, my life improved. I became happier.

I learned mostly from Zenhabits. And after reading Leo’s post on teens, this blog just came to me. My brain was bubbling with knowledge, knowledge specific to teens. Because I am a teen, and while there is great information out there, little is written with teens in mind.

Teens need a manifesto. We are confused. Many of us don’t know how to be peaceful or happy. We don’t know how to deal with this crazy amount of stress. We don’t know how to become healthy. We don’t know how to deal with bullies.

Some of us do, but most don’t. I can visit any school and see that.

We need a manifesto. We can deal with the problems we have. We can stop surviving and start living. We can stand up and explore the world. We can even create. And we can find lasting peace and happiness. Right now. Not in college or in adulthood.

I am writing this manifesto. I am nowhere near enlightened or perfect, but I have changed my life. I have learned things, and have learned to find peace. I need to write this. Teens need something. Too often we are overlooked.

Many of us are struggling, and I hope I can help. I am writing a manifesto for teens. I am writing everything I’ve learned down, in an effort to help.

I hope it helps you and anyone else. This is why I’m releasing it for free.

I don’t know how long it will take. In the meantime, I will still be publishing new blog posts on zenteen.

Spread the word.