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.
- Say thank you and please. Even to people who are supposed to just be doing their jobs.
- Have an open mind when discussing another person’s opposing point of view.
- Don’t let your insecurity get in the way of believing people when they compliment you.
- Hug your family and friends, tell them why you love them and why they’re special to you
- Remove harm from someone’s way. Even if it’s a piece of broken glass on the sidewalk. Help keep people safe.
- 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.
- Tell your children and spouse that you are proud of them.
- Take a deep breath and meditate on the following for thirty seconds: world peace.
- Remember that a single opinion does not define anyone. A person can be incredibly wrong about one thing and incredibly right about something else.
- Sing loudly in front of the mirror while you’re getting ready for the day. Be the rock star that I know you are.
- Let someone in front of you in traffic.
- Call someone you’ve been meaning to call but have been too busy to do so.
- Don’t feel guilty. Either do something to fix it or forget about it.
- 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.
- Eat something green. With leaves. Candy doesn’t count.
- Relax. In the grand scheme of time, this really isn’t a big deal.
- 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.
- 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.
- Think of someone who has wronged you, that you hate, that has hurt you. Now, pray for/send positive thoughts to them.
- 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.
41 Comments »
RSS feed for comments on this post · TrackBack URI
Finn Said,
January 7, 2010 @ 12:59 pm
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.
[Reply]
Faiqa Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 9:29 pm
@Finn, Not surprising that you already do these things… I’m curious about which ones you don’t do?
[Reply]
Finn Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
@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.
[Reply]
Lisa Said,
January 7, 2010 @ 2:53 pm
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.
[Reply]
Faiqa Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
@Lisa, It could be a fun vegetable. And who says you can’t drown in a creamy, rich sauce? Not me. Butter is OK, too.
[Reply]
Emily Said,
January 7, 2010 @ 5:40 pm
I love this! Happy Birthday
[Reply]
Faiqa Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
@Emily, Thank you!
[Reply]
Becca Said,
January 7, 2010 @ 5:45 pm
Happy Birthday Early!! I like your list a lot!
[Reply]
Faiqa Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
@Becca, Thanks… I like my list, too.
[Reply]
Coal Miner's Granddaughter Said,
January 7, 2010 @ 7:09 pm
Number 17. I will definitely commit to number 17.
I hope you have an amazing birthday.
[Reply]
Faiqa Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
@Coal Miner’s Granddaughter, Obviously, duct tape on the children will have to accompany that. I extend my heartfelt thanks in advance.
[Reply]
Poppy Said,
January 7, 2010 @ 7:26 pm
I did #11 today since I will probably not be the driver on Saturday!
[Reply]
Poppy Said,
January 7, 2010 @ 7:27 pm
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.
[Reply]
Faiqa Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
@Poppy, Thank you, honey… you make me smile, too.
[Reply]
Avitable Said,
January 7, 2010 @ 9:12 pm
So, what, like a gift card to Amazon.com?
[Reply]
Faiqa Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
@Avitable, You are hopeless. So, yes. Nothing less than $300 will make me happy, though.
[Reply]
Avitable Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
@Faiqa, I only ask because I already do all of those things. I am, after all, perfect.
[Reply]
Faiqa Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
@Avitable, And entirely predictable. YAAAAWWWWWN.
[Reply]
Sybil Law Said,
January 7, 2010 @ 9:51 pm
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…
[Reply]
Faiqa Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 11:10 pm
@Sybil Law, Who needs a diamond necklace when I’m friends with pure awesomeness like you?
[Reply]
Dave2 Said,
January 7, 2010 @ 10:12 pm
It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
[Reply]
Faiqa Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
@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.
[Reply]
Ginger Said,
January 7, 2010 @ 10:52 pm
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.
[Reply]
Faiqa Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
@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.
[Reply]
B.E. Earl Said,
January 8, 2010 @ 1:46 am
I can handle something like 14 or 15 of those. Sure.
And hey…have a Happy Happy Happy Birthday!
[Reply]
Selma Said,
January 8, 2010 @ 9:18 am
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!!
[Reply]
Hilly Said,
January 8, 2010 @ 9:28 am
When I grow up, I want to be just like Teen Dream Faiqa. Oh no…I am not even kidding either.
[Reply]
adnan. Said,
January 8, 2010 @ 10:55 am
I will be nice to people who are not wrong. =)
[Reply]
hello haha narf Said,
January 8, 2010 @ 11:06 am
for you? anything!
[Reply]
Deepa Agrawal Said,
January 8, 2010 @ 1:17 pm
love it ! Beautiful post Faiqa!
[Reply]
SciFi Dad Said,
January 8, 2010 @ 7:56 pm
I tried #15, and the cheese I ate tasted funny and made me sick. Thanks.
Happy Birthday!
[Reply]
What a Faiqa wants, a Faiqa gets Said,
January 9, 2010 @ 1:01 am
[...] 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 [...]
Lynda Said,
January 9, 2010 @ 3:41 am
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.
[Reply]
martymankins Said,
January 9, 2010 @ 12:57 pm
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.
[Reply]
Mocha Said,
January 9, 2010 @ 1:19 pm
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!
[Reply]
Ali Said,
January 9, 2010 @ 5:01 pm
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.
[Reply]
always home and uncool Said,
January 9, 2010 @ 6:51 pm
Happy birthday, F!
[Reply]
Jason Said,
January 9, 2010 @ 8:34 pm
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.
[Reply]
J from Ireland Said,
January 9, 2010 @ 8:56 pm
Have a very Happy Birthday. That is a lovely list and I promise to try follow that list.
[Reply]
The Urban Cowboy Said,
January 10, 2010 @ 3:14 am
I try to live by many on your list already, except for #10, I can’t stand my ‘singin voice’…so Happy Birthday!
[Reply]
muskrat Said,
January 10, 2010 @ 9:36 pm
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?
[Reply]