Make a Wish

When we think about wishes, we think about what we don’t have. What’s missing. What we’re still longing for.

But lately, I’ve been thinking about a different kind of wish—the ones we already caught . The ones we don’t appreciate anymore because we’ve grown used to having them. The love you once wished for might be the child who hugs you every morning. The stability you dreamed of could be the home you live in now. And the freedom you longed for? Maybe it’s how you no longer have to ask for permission to be yourself.

Some of your current blessings were once dreams. You just forgot to notice they came true. My biggest dream was becoming a children’s book author and illustrator. I didn’t necessarily forget that I’m living my dream, but I was reminded of how deep that wish was. A few weeks ago, I was at my mom’s house, digging through boxes from my childhood, when I found a stack of picture books I had made when I was eight years old. Crayon drawings. Stapled pages. Little stories I wrote and illustrated all by myself.

I had completely forgotten about them.

But as I flipped through each one, I started to cry. Because I realized… This dream I have now, of being a children’s book author and illustrator, was with me since I could hold a pencil. Before I knew it could be a job. Before I had words like “career” or “goal.”

That wish lived in me since I was a little girl.

And now, I’m living it.

This summer, I’ve been catching myself mid-wish. Longing for more time, more freedom, more joy. And then realizing I’m standing barefoot in my garden, creating my own work schedule, a warm breeze on my face, and my son laughing in the background.

That was my wish. There’s a reason it feels good to close your eyes and dream. Science calls it mental contrasting —a fancy way of saying that when we picture what we want and imagine the path to get there, our brain gets on board. It actually helps us move forward. Wishing, in this way, becomes an act of self-trust. Like telling your brain, I believe in this enough to try.

And then there’s the ritual of release.

Research shows that symbolic actions like blowing out candles or sending off a wish on a dandelion, can actually ease anxiety. When we give our hopes and dreams to the wind, we’re letting go. We’re believing in something bigger than ourselves.

Sometimes, wishing is less about the outcome, and more about the surrender.

So this is your invitation to pause. To remember what you once longed for. And what you now have. And to truly notice it. Feel it. And be grateful.

Because yes, there are still wishes waiting. But maybe there are just as many that already came true.

Field of Wishes is a therapeutic art activity that helps you reflect on the dreams you’ve held that came true, the ones that changed, and the ones you still carry. It’s about honouring and being grateful for the dreams that came true, while making space for the ones that still matter.

Studies show that symbolic reflection like this can ease anxiety, build self-trust, and bring a sense of peace. When we take time to name what we’ve longed for, we begin to see our lives with more compassion and clarity. Why it’s beneficial:

🌱 It helps you see how far you’ve come

🌱 It shows you what still matters to you

🌱 It gives you permission to let go of wishes that no longer fit

🌱 It invites you to reconnect with hope in a grounded way

Download and print the Field of Wishes worksheet

Look at each dandelion. Each one represents a different kind of wish. Wishes that came true. Wishes you’ve let go of. Wishes yet to happen.

Write or draw inside each dandelion.

Tape the sheet somewhere you’ll see it often. Let it remind you everyday that some of your wishes already came true…but there are still so many more waiting for you.