New Year Wishes 2026

I’ve been thinking about wishes. We’ve just been through a season where wishes are strongly placed. From children to parents. From spouses to each other. From children to Santa. What are wishes, exactly? Do they come true? What do we do when the wishes we “put out there” are not granted? What if they are granted?

When I leave my house in my car and want to be sure that there is a parking space for me to use at my destination, I make a plan. I say aloud, “This where I want to park,” and make a vision in my mind of that place. Even when I don’t know anything about the parking at the place where I’m going.

Understand that I do have a HCP hang tag, so spaces may be a little easier to come by. But, sometimes, they are not. Sometimes, I must park in a regular space, not one designated for handicapped drivers. My plan when leaving home is to plan for any easily accessible space at my destination.

Truth be told (and, understand, I haven’t really kept track), I estimate that the parking place is waiting for me there about ninety-five percent of the time. Was my plan a wish? Perhaps. And, when the “wish” is granted do I remember to give thanks. Just a little “thanks for the spot,” to whomever it was that arranged for it.

For me, I always assume that the provider is my God. So, it’s “Thank you, God.” For others who practice this activity, it may be other providers for them. I remember that the Rector at a church where I was going said he followed the same practice, as I. So, I felt like I was in good company!

A couple of months ago, when I got serious about thinking about what a wish is, I decided to ask others this question: If you could make a wish that you knew would be granted – only one wish – what would it be? This questions takes some thinking. When asking others, I was told more than once that this is a very hard question. I talked with grocery store employees, health care workers, service personnel, friends, relatives, young, and old – anyone who was willing to answer my question. And, many answered with some desired wish after thinking about the question. The market’s butcher was the only person to say he could not think of anything.

Health concerns were expressed by several. At my market, one of the managers said his wish would be that his mother’s health improve; she has been diagnosed with a cancer. He wanted her to be well. A man working in homes as a handyman wishes for less pain – over the years; spots in different areas of his body have become more painful while working. He would wish to have that pain disappear. One person wished to achieve an optimum weight for better health. A good friend who does not live in the U.S. wishes for good health, like she had when she was in her thirties or forties.

The death of a loved one was the concern of more than one responder. A mom wishes that her daughter was still living and caring for her sons and daughter. A young man whose mother died when he was young wished to have her back.

Faith in the Supreme Being was offered by more than one responder. The tall, young man bagging my groceries at the market said he wished for God to have more control, and Jesus to be more present in every life. A friend who lives in the U.S. said this; I wanted to give the full response: “I don’t believe in wishes. I stopped making them a very long time ago when I realized that wishes bypass the presence and power of God. I don’t even use the phrase, ‘I wish…’ casually. But if prayer [can] stand in for “wish,” then mine is that every man, woman, and child would come to know the love of Christ and be saved. That’s what I pray for every day.”

Our Earth’s critical condition was the basis for wishes about her health. Usually, the responder included a wish for the inhabitants of our Earth. A responder who belongs to a same organization as I, said this: “I have given a lot of thought about your request, asking for our fondest wish. I have decided I want to leave the world a better place through voting, raising competent and kind children/grandchildren and through activism for my values.” (She also included another very personal wish. It is for our organization that is currently in the process of formally disbanding to continue to meet informally because we all care so much for each other.)

The wishes of my health care providers were equally interesting. A pharmacy technician handed me my script order and told me that her wish is that she had begun her studies in law, years earlier – younger than her late fifties year of age. She thanked her pharmacy owner for his willingness to allow her to study during slow times in the pharmacy. Following up with this idea of “age,” I reminded her that she would be the same age with or without the degree she sought. So, keep going for it!

That same pharmacist that she thanked wishes to have the ability to participate with his family in the stuff that he has now and to connect with his family as much as he wants to.

When I asked my dentist, his first response was “Why do you ask such hard questions?” He then left the area where I was being treated, but returned with this – “I’ve been thinking about your question. I don’t want anything for myself, alone. Rather, I would wish for goodwill to be granted to all creatures inhabiting the Earth. Humans. Animals. And, the environment, as well. I wish the best for this Earth, my home.” In the same vein, another good friend wishes for a world without fear.

Family members, adults and children, were also given the opportunity to respond. A grandparent talked with her children and grandchildren. These were their responses. Beginning with the grandchildren: the four-year-old’s wish was a for a water tower toy and a kitten. The two-year-old wished for the same water tower toy – but no kitten! Their dad and mom (age 40 and 38 respectively) wished for an immediate end to the genocide in Palestine; mom wishes for an end to man-made climate change. Two more wishes for the well-being of our Earth and its people. The grandmother’s wish is for a kinder and cleaner planet for the children, especially her grand children and their children, some day.

Financial worry was at the forefront for one person. I wish for a comfortable monthly income that would pay all of my bills, give money to help my family and to donate, and to have money so that I can travel.

An older responder, very close to my age gave a slightly light-hearted answer – “I wish I could dance!” Truth be told, I always wanted to dance, but that wish has been gone for decades.

Young people did have a slightly different outlook. A twenty-something chimney sweep who worked to clean my wood stove’s smoke stack said his wish would definitely be to have all of the wishes he made, in the future, come true. A slightly older good friend, using the chimney sweep’s wish as a springboard, wishes for everyone’s GOOD wishes to be granted. NO EVIL ALLOWED.

And, here is the personal wish that got me thinking about asking other people. I wish that I could be young again – say in my thirties or forties – and have the same judgement based on knowledge and experience that I have, today.

My wish for you is that whatever you need will materialize. That good health and wisdom may be yours. In the meanwhile, don’t forget to say thanks to the somebody (your choice) for the wishes you make that are granted.

Be Safe and Be Well
The Cranky Crone
Thoughtful comments are appreciated.