My little bumper shoots of joy, it feels far-fetched imagining our little froggy friend is now a teenager. (Although, you’ll note, he still fits neatly on a dime!)

In celebration of my blog’s 13th anniversary, I wish to wish you 13 wishes. (And that’s not just wishful thinking. Although, thinking about wishes is filled with wishes. I’m sliding off track again, aren’t I?)

Let’s dive in!

Wish 1: I wish you a “Now Day.” That’s 24-hours of existing in the present. No regrets or frets about the past. No worries or woes about the future. Nothing but appreciating the present.

Wish 2: I wish you an avalanche of gratitude. May you be overcome by the thought of all the good things (and people) in your life.

Wish 3: I wish you a day with no mirrors. (No side eye glances either!) Be blissfully thoughtless about your outsides (despite their obvious charms!)

Wish 4: I wish you a new friend — yourself. Lavish the kindness, compassion, encouragement, and thoughtfulness on yourself equal to what you generously bestow on your favorite people.

Wish 5: I wish you bravery. Write that query letter. Enter that contest. Go to that event. Ask that question.

Wish 6: I wish you patience with your progress. There are typically a lot more days spent in the process and progress phase than there are the shiny new success days. Be patient and appreciate how far you’ve come.

Wish 7: I wish you a playful heart. Being silly, spontaneous, goofy, uninhibited, whimsical, and free-spirited is energizing. Let your inner child take the lead and welcome the joy.

Wish 8: I wish you a lane change. Use that blinker and get on over. Try reading or writing in a new genre, a new workshop on a topic you’ve never explored, a novel way of drawing, or a different way to build a poem.

Wish 9: I wish you a day of liberty – no cell phone, no social media, no computer, no Google, no scrolling, no online shopping, no TV, no 24-hour news cycle, no outside noise.

Wish 10: I wish you time to treat yourself. There’s that book shop you’ve driven by a dozen times, but never stopped, treat yourself and go on in. Whatever you consider a treat–a nap, a long walk, a lunch with a dear friend–g’head!

Wish 11: I wish you deep, restorative sleep, and dreams that ignite your creativity with ideas you really do recall when you wake.

Wish 12: I wish you discovery — a new author, a new writing technique, a new plant or animal, a new color, a new place to explore, a new song that makes your heart soar, a new recipe (especially if it’s a dessert), a new way of looking at an old problem.

Wish 13: I wish you a day to start “The Thing.” Whatever that Thing is–getting back to an old novel, learning a new technology, reorganizing your desk or files, outlining a new book–go ahead, and at long last, take that first step (or hop, skip or jump).

Don’t underestimate the power of consistent progress. Small things become big things. ~  Brian Reese