I wish to come alive again, at the wish tree
I wish there was no guns, at the wish tree
I wish this tree would stay forever and everybody would cared about it.
I wish my parents lived in the same house happily forever
The wish tree, Berkeley, CA
Earlier this year, we made a wish tree in front of our house. It was my foolish project – something I had always wanted to do, simply for the delight of making something with my hands and bringing something generous + kind to my community.
Little did I know it would the very best thing I did all year.
Little did I know it would be a source of daily joy.
Little did I know that the local high school students would stop by + hang their wishes.
Little did I know that reading these little pieces of paper would open my heart + allow me to feel the sweetest kind of connection.
When we meet a new neighbor these days and they ask where we live, we proudly say, “Over there by the wish tree!” And they always get excited. Recently, when we met a new family, they gasped. That’s yours? The wish tree was the first thing we saw when we moved to the neighborhood! It made us feel like we were home.
Wanna know something kinda strange + poetic?
The tree that all the wishes hang from is a lemon tree. It’s beautiful, but the lemons are inedible. Sour , bitter, lumpy.
But I love the poetry of this – the bitter lemon tree that has been fashioned into a wish tree. The bitter tree that is bringing people hope + delight + a moment of reflection and connection.
The other day I saw a teenage boy carrying a skateboard walk up to my door. He left something on the stoop and I immediately grumbled, I’m sick of those pizza joints leaving their menus on my steps! I ran out to see what he left and my heart immediately melted:
Start a Foolish Project starts Monday, October 7th
If you feel inspired to create something simply for the delight (yours + others) join me for Start a Foolish Project!
We will each be choosing a project that puts a spring in our step. It could be anything from:
- A wish tree
- A community dinner
- A neighborhood water balloon fight
- Learning to play the ukulele
- Hosting a Storybowl
- to a Bubble flash mob
Foolish projects make us come alive
Let me help you discover YOUR foolish project + give you inspiration and encouragement as you create it. Join me on October 7thfor this 4 week e-course.
“Andrea’s superpower is helping you find yours! I didn’t expect the flurry of ideas that came from this experience… and I especially didn’t expect to get such clarity around what i want to create in my life.” -Denese
More details here. Or you can register here.
Do you wish to come alive again?
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This was a really good idea, and the tree carries some goof energies for sure. Could you hang a wish tag for me as well please?
“I wish that I could live more in the moment and truly believe that at the end everything will be not just ok,but awesome.”
thank you
Monika from Helsinki
This is so brilliant! Made me feel better this morning and I actually made my on little tags and hung them above my desk! what will you do when the rains come?
Cat
Mill Valley
So beautiful… during another ecourse I took we did dream flags – similar – I loved looking out at my tree in my backyard that held our dreams. I just started making new dream flags and included some of the neighbor kids. We need to finish them!
Andrea you are amazing as always! Your story about the Wish Tree touched my heart deeply! Thank you so much for sharing and for the wonderful idea!
I have a vague idea of where you live (we live in the same city) and I have a long weekend of waiting for my current wish to come true. On my weekend walk I will try and find your tree and add my wish. 🙂
Got me singing that song by Peter Paul and Mary…Lemon tree very pretty, and the lemon flower is sweet, but the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat….:-) what a wonderful story!
That darn tree still makes me cry… In the spring, I will start my own tree.
I’ve enjoyed the tree all year. Didn’t even know it was you!
am still doing Secret Salad SOciety. And am still involved in the Wild School. SO enjoyed Foolish Projects…
I just put a Make a Wish sign up on our Rose of Sharon, and a baggie w/tags & pens, I feel breathless and shy, and anxious and excited.
Wow….Love it! That is so beautiful. As you can see I am partial to tags! Thanks so much for sharing. Touched my heart!
This site is inspiring! Keep up the good work.
Funny super hero stuff: http://marveldcforum.com
Thank you so much for your wonderful wishing tree!
My daughter and I came across it while walking home from preschool last week and it just made my day. My daughter made a wish for a pink poodle!
I was so touched by your thoughtful tree that I wrote a blog post about it as soon as we got home. One day when I have my own home with a tree in the front yard I’d love to make a wishing tree too. Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
http://www.littlehiccups.net/2013/10/the-wishing-tree.html?m=1
Now I’m going to be driving all around Berkeley, looking for the wishing tree (and probably asking people walking around.. to the tune of ‘do you know the muffin man?’ 😀 Love this. I need more foolish ideas in my life.
That boys note made me cry instantly!
waterproof wish tags!
I love this idea! I’ve included this post in my biweekly links roundup. You can view that here! http://mckellasawyer.com/link-magic-1182013-2/
Thank you for the inspiration. I work as a high school art teacher and the librarian and I are going to collaborate to make an indoor wishing tree in the library out of chicken wire and paper! The leaves are going to be painted on dry wax paper…so many ideas swirling!! I will send you pictures when we get it completed.
I wrote my wishes and hung it on the lemon tree. It brought me so much joy and comfort during that lull period in my life
I love love love this! So inspiring. I shared a link to your wish tree on my blog, thebipolarspirit.com. Thank you for creating something so beautiful.
Yesterday, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a 25 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is totally off topic but I had to share it with someone!