Wishlist

One thing that we have in common as human beings, something that is definitely absent among the ranks of the lower mammalian, is the unique and beautiful ability to dream. I'm not talking about the random (and sometimes scary) visions that roam about our heads at night while we are in that deep R.E.M. state. What I am referring to is the way we can imagine and produce a mental road map or itinerary of what we want to do, see or accomplish in life. Some call it a plan. Some call it their bucket list. I refer to it as my Wishlist.

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."-Mohandas Gandhi 

As babes, we enter life being asked by the grown ups, what exactly do we wish for. I remember in kindergarten, in between the naps and learning the letters of the alphabet, my teacher asking me, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Most of us replied with the grade school standard 'fireman', 'policeman' or 'astronaut'. An enterprising few stated that they would love to be the President or a rock star. I never remember anyone wishing they would become a garbage man, a toll-booth collector or a burger flipper. We were prodded to think big, as if the world was our oyster for the taking.
Growing older, I realized that one can think big, but this world, full of opportunity and promise when we were young, gradually becomes smaller and smaller once we are aware of the finite realities of life. The odds are stacked against us like a game of Jenga in an earthquake. The truth is there can be only so many Presidents, rock stars or astronauts. More likely than not, we will become a cog in the wheels of society. We will hold down "Joe" jobs. We will do boring and predictable things with our precious time here. When we get to Heaven and the bearded guy asks us, "How was the ride?", we will likely respond, "Meh."
This is where I feel we need to hold tightly onto what separates us from the rest of the animals, who go about their existence in the same boring, predictable and mundane manner. A starfish doesn't dream of skydiving or visiting the Eiffel Tower in June. A starfish goes about it's business being a starfish, sitting on the bottom of the ocean floor looking for sustenance. 
We can see beyond our lot in life if we only try. Dreams and wishes will always be just dreams and wishes until they are acted upon. My Wishlist has evolved into a multitude of things.

•  I want to be in a happy, stable and loving relationship for once in my life. (check)
• I would love to spend a weekend in Ireland
• I want to finish college and obtain my degree
• I want to retire with my lover when I'm old and gray, driving around the country in a Winnebago
• I want be in shape
• I want to do something in my life that makes a difference
• I want to learn a new recipe every week
• I want to be free of debt

These are some of the wishes in my list. It is an infinite process; a list that I will always be adding to. Some things I have checked off my wishlist. Some I am currently working on. Some, I may never complete. The important thing, though, is that I didn't sit in the water and look for sustenance while the world passed me by. I got up and tried.