A Needed Pause
It’s been a while since I sent out an article. Like many of us, life became overwhelming. Too many plates spinning, too many tasks piling up, and eventually—something had to pause.
That pause lasted until I attended a concert and heard the most beautiful song: “Wishes.”
The Band That Sparked Reflection
The group Tiny Habits—a trio of incredibly talented 20-year-olds—sang with such honesty and vulnerability that it transported me straight into a quiet place of reflection.
They reminded me of my own children in their 20s:
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Their emotions
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Their struggles
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Their self-discovery
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Their raw truth about life
Their voices were soft, honest, and full of the ache of growing up.
It was impossible not to feel hopeful, even in their pain.
A Song About Life, Not Love
Like many of us, they sang about the universal longing to be different:
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More confident
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Less anxious
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Better
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Braver
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Kinder
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Stronger
We all wish for something different in ourselves. We all question our worth at times.
Powerful lines that stopped me in my tracks:
“I wish I didn’t feel like a burden all of the time.”
“I wish I was certain I wanted to live this kind of life.”
Sharing the Music With My Daughter
After their set, I rushed to buy a t-shirt for my daughter. I knew—deep in my bones—she’d connect with their message.
The next morning, she came upstairs from the laundry room with red, teary eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
“You told me to listen to their songs… and now I’m crying!”
She laughed and cried at the same time.
“Which one got you?”
“Wishes,” she whispered.
And she fell into my shoulder.
I held her as she let it out.
My words to her:
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You are not alone.
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Your differences make you extraordinary.
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You compare yourself to others, but others secretly wish they were more like you.
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Your unique ways—your creativity, sensitivity, kindness—are gifts.
Lyrics That Speak Truth
Some of the most relatable and heart-wrenching lines from the song include:
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“I wish I was a reader…”
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“I wish I didn’t linger on every thought…”
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“I wish I didn’t cater when I know I shouldn’t…”
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“I’ve become the person I said I never would.”
This is not just a song—it’s a mirror.
Why We Keep Wishing
We never stop wishing because we live in a world shaped by:
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Social expectations
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Norms we never agreed to
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Comparisons
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Self-judgment
We constantly feel like we’re “not enough,” when in reality, we’re exactly who we’re meant to be.
Acceptance does NOT mean stagnation
Accepting ourselves:
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Frees us from constant judgment
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Allows room for change
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Builds compassion for our younger selves
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Helps us grow without guilt
My Daughter’s Confession
She said:
“When they sang ‘I wish I was better at being kind to the one body that I’ve got,’
I felt so bad about how I treated myself when I was younger.”
My response:
You did the best you could with the tools you had.
You were too young to understand your pain in the way you do now.
And now—now you know better, and can do better.
Growth is not “I should have known better.”
Growth is evolution.
The Bigger Message: Acceptance, Forgiveness & Growth
Life is:
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Learning
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Failing
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Evolving
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Letting go
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Forgiving yourself
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Becoming better through awareness
As Maya Angelou beautifully said:
“When you know better, do better.”
Listen to the Song
Here is Tiny Habits’ “Wishes”:
https://youtu.be/kbXXA_aDb8c
The Final Questions
What do you wish for?
Can you forgive yourself?
Can you accept yourself?
Can you love yourself as you are—today?
Because the world is lucky to have you.
You bring something no one else can.
A Wish for You
Wishing you—
whatever it is you need today, tomorrow, and every day you open your eyes and say:
“Lucky you, world. I’m here.” ❤️