Make a wish and always have a dream!

Photo by Adam Feeney (all rights reserved)

After a storm comes a rainbow.  Seeing a rainbow is always a delight and when we spot one, we get excited in telling others about our discovery.  There is something magical about a rainbow because it brings wonder and ore. Seeing a part of the arc or if you are very lucky a semi-circle which brings glory, beauty and intrigue as you never know if there will be a leprechaun with a pot of gold at its end!  Also, remember it is said he will grant you three wishes.

Children love to draw rainbows. They feel proud when they remember the order of the colours.  If you have trouble remembering - it goes like this… Remember this saying. Richard Of Your Gave Battle In Vain.  The first letter of each word represents the colour order!

See a rainbow and make a wish…

In any event, even if you don’t find a leprechaun granting you three wishes you still have one wish by just seeing a rainbow. What will you wish for and how would you feel in that moment entering into a dream world with hope?  This could change all your worries and anxious feelings if your wish comes true!

Finding an oil lamp or bottle and rubbing it we might then find a Genie granting us three wishes!

What are your three wishes? This is something we would ask each other as children but we rarely ask ourselves or each other as we get older.

Perhaps most people would say money as their first wish, then perhaps fame followed by nice friends?  Then the list starts to increase… a faithful partner, children, good health, successful (only three wishes!)

What about wishing to be happy? Or simply a wish to feel better.  Have you ever thought about why we wish? Well, it gives us that ‘feel good factor’ it can bring change to our mood which may last some time. When we wish it helps make the bad thoughts go to the back of our mind.  For a period of time, we put ourselves in a safer ‘nice’ place. Therefore, enabling a respite from the negative thinking and strengthening our positive thoughts

If someone is physically ill, it can also affect their mental health. Having a wish to feel better again for any health issue gives hope and can actually make us feel stronger and decrease anxious feelings.

What about...Wishes for yourself or to use your wishes for others. Wishes for world peace - no more wars, a wish for humans not to go through pain or a wish for our planet.

We use wishes in general speaking and conversing with others.  Also, at certain times of the year or occasions. For example, Birthday wishes Christmas Wishes, Wish a Happy New Year and Best Wishes in Your New Home.

There are so many different ways that we bring wishing into our mindset. Ranging from making a wish list, making a Santa wish list, and wishing someone well. Bad feelings disappear when we wish. For example, for feelings of anger, if you turn to a wish this can then be a good way of switching the feeling that then leads to forgiveness.

There are many other ways that wishes are brought into cultures around the world for example In New Zealand the tradition of planting a tree and for then wishes to be made through this form. Asian, Thai, Japanese and Chinese are present in everyday life. Often red ribbons are tied to trees for good blessings. In China, people make wishes for prosperity and happiness during the Lunar New Year.

Traditions are embedded in our wish-making. For example, the act of blowing on a dandelion flower that has gone to seed.  In ancient times there was the belief that a person’s wishes would be carried on these seeds up into the heavens above. Therefore, the powers above making your wishes come true.

A common tradition of blowing the candles out on a birthday cake.  This was a special way that the Ancient Greeks would pay tribute to the Greek mood Goddess Artemis.  Likewise, Germans would put a candle in the middle of a cake as a symbol of the light of life.

Other wishing traditions include Wishing wells, Horseshoes, a wishing tree, a Coin tree, tossing coins in a fountain to make a wish, and putting a sixpence (or now a 20p) in a Christmas puddin'. Wish in a shooting star. A dried-out wishbone from a chicken or a turkey.

Of course, fairytales and Disney films in particular give focus on wishes being granted to characters. Fairy Godmother and Cinderella. Pinocchio and the song - When You Wish Upon a star.

A theme for music for eras has been songs that capture the human desire for happiness, love and hope.  Wishing for these things in our life the wonder if they might come true, wishing the relationship had not ended is again a focus in many love songs. Wishes for a happy or merry time.

Songs with wishing words in them:

·       We wish you a Merry Christmas

·       Wish you the best - Lewis Capaldi

·       My Wish Came True – Elvis Presley

·       Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd

·       I Wish You Well - Bill Withers

·       Bet You wish You had me back - Halestorm.

·       I Wish – Cher Lloyd

Can you think of any more?

What will be your final wishes? Our final wishes come at the end of our life. This is something many of us will not want to think about.

A wish can be a want…I wish/want to be home for Christmas. I wish/want to be slimmer. Or a wish can be a regret. I wish I had not said that.

SO…what is your wish?

It is interesting to note that the power of a wish is universal. Wishes bring us hope and dreams as well as positivity and helps reduce our feelings of lowness.

So, keep wishing and never let go of hope. Unearth your inner driver whether you call it a wish, goal or hope – look towards positivity and this will aid your mental health.