Diversity, dialogue and multiculturalism in America

Saturday is my birthday.  Someone asked if I have a wish list.  Why, yes, yes I do.

Just for Saturday.  Pick one.  Or ten.  And make my wishes come true.

  1. Say thank you and please.  Even to people who are supposed to just be doing their jobs.
  2. Have an open mind when discussing another person’s opposing point of view.
  3. Don’t let your insecurity get in the way of believing people when they compliment you.
  4. Hug your family and friends, tell them why you love them and why they’re special to you
  5. Remove harm from someone’s way.  Even if it’s a piece of broken glass on the sidewalk.  Help keep people safe.
  6. If you believe in God, remember that God created every single thing.  Treat his creations with respect and love.  Exercise humility with regard to your blessings.
  7. Tell your children and spouse that you are proud of them.
  8. Take a deep breath and meditate on the following for thirty seconds: world peace.
  9. Remember that a single opinion does not define anyone.  A person can be incredibly wrong about one thing and incredibly right about something else.
  10. Sing loudly in front of the mirror while you’re getting ready for the day.  Be the rock star that I know you are.
  11. Let someone in front of you in traffic.
  12. Call someone you’ve been meaning to call but have been too busy to do so.
  13. Don’t feel guilty.  Either do something to fix it or forget about it.
  14. Don’t dissect anyone behind their back.  You have a problem with someone or the way they’re handling something?  Just tell them and get it over with.
  15. Eat something green.  With leaves.  Candy doesn’t count.
  16. Relax.  In the grand scheme of time, this really isn’t a big deal.
  17. Turn off the TV and just sit.  In silence.  Embrace your thoughts. Renounce nothing in this moment and sit in a state of complete acceptance.
  18. Even if it did not turn out just the way you wanted, look at this project with joy, acceptance and openness.  You tried.  And assume that everyone else did, too.
  19. Think of someone who has wronged you, that you hate, that has hurt you.  Now, pray  for/send positive thoughts to them.
  20. Give yourself a big hug from me.  Tell yourself that I’m glad you were born, that I’m glad you are alive, and that I want the best for you.  Because it’s true.

Getting things for one’s birthday is nice.  But, me?  I prefer people to be nice.  Please be nice to each other.

Really, that is all I want for my birthday.

 

44 Responses to A Wish List For My Birthday

  1. Finn says:

    What a lovely wish list…

    I do many of these things regularly, so for your birthday gift I will commit to doing the ones here that I’m not already doing.

    • Faiqa says:

      @Finn, Not surprising that you already do these things… I’m curious about which ones you don’t do?

      • Finn says:

        @Faiqa, Meditating on world peace, singing in front of the mirror (in the car, yes) and sending positive thoughts to someone I hate (I can’t think of anyone who fits that. I think I’ve forgiven everyone who’s hurt me).

        And I should tell my husband and son that I am proud of them more often.

  2. Lisa says:

    I like this birthday wish list! Like Finn, I will try to do the things I don’t already. Except maybe the vegetable one. That might be a hard one.

  3. Emily says:

    I love this! Happy Birthday :-)

  4. Becca says:

    Happy Birthday Early!! I like your list a lot! :)

  5. Number 17. I will definitely commit to number 17. :) I hope you have an amazing birthday.

  6. Poppy says:

    I did #11 today since I will probably not be the driver on Saturday! :)

  7. Poppy says:

    I did #15 today too, but I’ll make sure to do it again on Saturday. :)

    A photo of you just cycled through my screen saver and it made me dorky giggle and smile.

  8. Avitable says:

    So, what, like a gift card to Amazon.com?

  9. Sybil Law says:

    I’ve seriously done quite a few of the things on this list today. I am AWESOME! ;)
    Also, you are awesome. Happy Early Birthday!
    Guess I’ll have to return that diamond necklace I got for you, then…

  10. Dave2 says:

    It’s the gift that keeps on giving. :-)

    • Faiqa says:

      @Dave2, That’s the idea… like Christmas, spread joy to your fellow man in the name of the big J-man… except, you know, it really *is* my birthday on Saturday.

  11. Ginger says:

    Bravo! I love this list!!! In fact, I plan to print it out and post it to my mirror. Seriously.

    Happy Birthday, my fellow Capricorn. :)

    • Faiqa says:

      @Ginger, Thanks & hey, Capricorn’s rule!! I’m pretty sure we invented label makers and spreadsheets. The world would be mired in senseless chaos were it not for us.

  12. B.E. Earl says:

    I can handle something like 14 or 15 of those. Sure.

    And hey…have a Happy Happy Happy Birthday!

  13. Selma says:

    Such a wonderful list. I did many of the things on your list today but I will admit to having trouble with #19. Sometimes I can’t get past the fact that someone has wronged me. However, as a gift for you I will work on #19 in the coming week.

    Have a fantabulous birthday!!

  14. Hilly says:

    When I grow up, I want to be just like Teen Dream Faiqa. Oh no…I am not even kidding either. :)

  15. adnan. says:

    I will be nice to people who are not wrong. =)

  16. Deepa Agrawal says:

    love it ! Beautiful post Faiqa!

  17. SciFi Dad says:

    I tried #15, and the cheese I ate tasted funny and made me sick. Thanks.

    Happy Birthday!

  18. [...] and Mexicans, and all the potential in the world. Luckily, though, she made it easy on me with a post she wrote on Thursday, letting all of her gracious readers know exactly what she wants for her birthday. I've [...]

  19. Lynda says:

    I try to do all these things for the most part. I hope you have a happy birthday! I do need to work on #16 though.

  20. martymankins says:

    Great list, but I had to re-read #5 because on the first read, I thought it said “Remove ham from someone’s way” and I don’t want to do that. lol

    Seriously, hope you have a great birthday today.

  21. Mocha says:

    For your birthday I will take out a hit on anyone you’d like. It appears that, as usual, Adam Avitable will be at the top of the list. Let me know details.

    I can make it look like an accident.

    Happy Birthday, Faiqa!

  22. Ali says:

    Hello,
    I got to know about your birthday through Avitable, and your named always had a tinge of desi-ness to it. Well, with some minor blog-crawling i find out that you did have roots in Pakistan.

    A big, big Happy Birthday from Pakistan. And, if you don’t mind i am copying your list, people really need it here.

  23. Jason says:

    I love it, and I will try. To be nice to other people. Because I’m already nice to you. Because you live far away. And I love you.

  24. Have a very Happy Birthday. That is a lovely list and I promise to try follow that list.

  25. I try to live by many on your list already, except for #10, I can’t stand my ‘singin voice’…so Happy Birthday!

  26. muskrat says:

    I loved Avitable’s response to this. Great b-day request, but I’m sure what you really wanted was to run into Forrest Gump sitting on a bench waiting on the bus to see Jenny working at Lady and Sons in Savannah, right? Right?

  27. what would a girl ask for if not for a diamond necklace, diamond necklaces would always impress a girl;~`

  28. i wish to have some diamond necklace but they are quite expensive ‘.;

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