My Wish for You

Recently, I attended a family wedding, and during the dinner, I joined in a conversation with several other wedding guests.  They were discussing what their wishes would be for the young couple embarking on their life together.  The consensus of everyone in the conversation, other than me, was that they would wish the newlyweds would win the lottery.  While winning the lottery obviously brings a lot of money into your life, statistics have shown that lottery winners face increased levels of bankruptcy, divorce, and suicide compared to the general public.  Receiving valuables without gaining values is always dangerous. 

My wishes for that young couple and for you are as follows:

 I wish you good health, but the patience and perseverance to deal with the illness and disability that can come into any family.  I wish you days of happiness but the firm understanding that happiness is an internal emotion, not an external condition.  You and I have the wherewithal to produce all the happiness we want at any time. 

 I wish you the company of great friends and the knowledge that we become like the five people with whom we spend the most time.  I wish you hours of great solitude enjoying wonderful books, music, and time to contemplate.  I wish you fulfilling work and a pursuit of success in service to others.

 I wish you challenges, obstacles, and barriers so you can discover what a giant human being you were created to be.   I wish for you a loving family and all that goes with that whether your family is related by blood or only by love. 

 I wish for you a great education far beyond your last day of school and the understanding that life-long learning is both a necessity and a joy.  I wish for you to get involved in public service, the political process, and making the world a better place.  There will always be problems and challenges that need your attention and effort. 

 I wish for you to pursue your passion and strive beyond your current limitations then, having reached your goal, to celebrate it mightily before identifying and pursuing your next goal.

 I wish for you the resolution of your convictions and the curiosity of an open mind that will allow you to stand firmly on your values while growing within an ever-changing world. 

 I wish for you a long and eventful life that you can look back upon with no regrets.  Then, and only then, after enjoying all of these wishes, if you do indeed win the lottery, you will have the wisdom, balance, and judgment to control your wealth and not let it control you.

 As you go through your day to day, wish for the things that matter and move toward them.

 Today’s the day!