Today's Wish List

My Mom e-mailed me to ask what’s on my wish list today. I decided not to edit my list to try and “look good” or be “politically correct”. It’s better to examine our heart’s desires in raw form. Here’s my answer:

1) An end to Genocide in the hearts, minds, and lives of all humanity
2) A Chinese Calligraphy Teacher
3) Organizational Strategy and Legacy Planning Clients
4) A home overlooking the sea near my daughter (and/or in Morocco?)
5) A flat in London near my friends
6) An end to World War IV - terrorism - both mental and physical
7) That I was slim enough to wear Yves Saint Laurent in mourning

Living as a privileged first world citizen, I have a wish list with a broad range and even real hope that some of these things may come true. A freedom to hope and dream, even for trivial things, that I don’t take lightly.

I notice that what I want is concrete for me, theoretical for others. In my heart I feel Genocide and Terrorism are wrong but maybe, just maybe, I want an end to them because of their current impact on me personally.

And I notice that even if I do serve enough clients to own two homes, would that be justified? And will I feel sorry for myself if none of these things come to fruition? That would be a sad commentary on someone already so comfortable.

I can’t change what I want but maybe I can adjust what I think I must have. Why? So that I become the most loving person I can be, instead of the most wanting person I can be. Wants lead to things like terrorism and genocide. The only desires that seem justified are the ones that create more love, and only our hearts know the difference.

Wish I Had Done Sooner

1. Kept a bibliography of every book I've read.
2. Asked for a letter of recommendation on the spot from bosses, teachers, and clients who praised my work.
3. Started a journal/scrapbook of tickets, programs, and postcards with notes on all the wonderful things I get to do every day.
4. Kept a guestbook at all my homes and asked each visitor to jot a note.
5. Written short stories on rainy Saturday mornings.
6. Taken a walk after dinner with a loved one every evening.
7. Kept a journal of all my prayers, so I’m reminded how they were all answered.

Fundamental Human Rights

It may be whiplash to go from one person on a desert island to the entire human race in one post, but I wanted to give a sense of the breadth and depth that can be covered when one contemplates lists.

In this list, I tried to include those things that I thought were actually possible, because we can individually assure them for each other and or they are available if mankind as a whole will cooperate.

If these are allowed, I believe things like peace, emotional support, education, and health care will follow naturally.


My List of Seven Fundamental Human Rights

1. Right to Worship as You Choose
2. Freedom from Hate Crimes
3. Protection from Unprovoked Violence
4. Meaningful Productive Work
5. Nurturing Physical Environment (I believe there are enough resources on this planet for all of us to have nutritious food, clean air & water, and shelter.)
6. A Voice in your Community
7. Playtime

This is my opinion. I encourage you to make your own list and not to grapple with other’s lists too much. This list helped me clarify my values and affects how I vote and donate my resources. It focuses my time as I follow international affairs and inspires me to take action when I believe it will support these values.