This is a recent email exchange between me and my writing teacher/friend/co-workshop leader Laurie Wagner:
Dear Laurie,
Here is a list of things I wish people would pay me for!
I wish people would pay me to hold their hand on airplanes.
I wish people would pay me to find faces in their food.
I wish people would pay me to doll them up and take their picture.
I wish people would pay me to throw things out of their closet.
I wish people would pay me to play with their dog.
I wish people would pay me to find sea glass on the beach.
I wish people would pay me to cry on their couch.
I wish people would pay me to take a walk with them and point out what’s beautiful.Love,
Andrea
Laurie: I love this game! Here’s mine:
I wish people would pay me to come over and let me make them soup.
I wish people would pay me to come to my house and lay quietly on my couch.
I wish people would pay me to play with their hair.
I wish people would pay me to draw them a bath and light a few candles.
I wish people would pay me to make music compilations for them.
I wish people would pay me to tell them the doggone truth about everything!
I wish people would pay me to point out how the light is changing
I wish people would pay me to shop for textiles with them.
I wish people would pay me to rip paper with them.
I wish people would pay me to learn how to make guacamole.
Why am I sharing this with you?
These are bread crumbs. Little points of light. Things that light us up. Things that bring us joy. Things that give us clues about who we are and where we are going.
Want to try?
Set a timer for 3-5 minutes and see what comes out. Go ahead and share a few below.
![[Podcast] Manifest Anything You Want with Shantini Rajah](https://i0.wp.com/www.andreascher.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/WEBSITE_Graphics_for_Podcast_Instagram_Post_Square_3-20240516-g2j5dalikz.png?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
![[Podcast] The Good Eater with Nina Guilbeault](https://i0.wp.com/www.andreascher.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/nina_school_of_wonder.png?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
![[Podcast] The medicine of poetry with James Crews](https://i0.wp.com/www.andreascher.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/james_crews_school_of_wonder.png?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
I wish people would pay me to love dogs.
I wish people would pay me to read books.
I wish people would pay me to write with them.
I wish people would pay me to make them lists of things they need to read or see or listen to.
I wish people would pay me to pick out the perfect gift.
I wish people would pay me to wait with them.
I wish people would pay me to cry.
I wish people would pay me to go on a long walk with them.
I wish people would pay me to organize their junk drawers.
I wish people would pay me to notice.
I wish people would pay me to read them to sleep.
I wish people would pay me to read.
I wish people would pay me to cuddle with their cats.
I wish people would pay me to make them dolls.
I wish people would pay me to take photos of their true lovely selves.
I wish people would pay me to cry.
I wish people would pay me to hold their hands while they cry.
I wish people would pay me to kiss their cheeks.
I wish people would pay me to skip with them.
I wish people would pay me to collage their journal covers.
I wish people would pay me to go on long silent walks with them.
I wish people would pay me to pick out fabric.
I wish people would pay me to help them do less.
I wish people would pay me to help them see what to be grateful for.
I wish people would pay me to clean their kitchen.
I wish people would pay me to listen to their deepest desires, and their deepest hurts.
I wish people would pay me to have coffee with them.
I wish people would pay me to help them slow down.
I wish people would pay me to be in nature with them.
I wish people would pay me to help them find the humor in everyday life.
I wish people would pay me to learn the value of a good nap.
I wish people would pay me to listen.
I wish people would pay me to assist them with fun projects.
I wish people would pay me to walk on the beach.
I wish people would pay me to hug them.
I wish people would pay me to watch movies with them.
I wish people would pay me to make them muffins.
I wish people would pay me to play trivia games with them.
I wish people would pay me to feel the magic at Disney World with them.
I wish people would pay me to help them through a crisis.
I wish people would pay me to watch for butterflies.
I wish people would pay me to give them directions.
I wish people would pay me to take them to the movies.
I wish people would pay me to read children’s stories to them.
I wish people would pay me to send them surprises in the mail.
I wish people would pay me to hold them while they fall asleep.
I wish people would pay me to notice the beauty in their struggle.
I wish people would pay me to eat ice cream.
I wish people would pay me to sing along to Radiohead.
I wish people would pay me to watch insects crawling.
I wish people would pay me to make them laugh.
I wish people would pay me to organize their cabinets.
I wish people would pay me to daydream.
I wish people would pay me to hike in beautiful places.
I wish people would pay me to take long baths.
I wish people would pay me to sit with my back to the sun.
I wish people would pay me to find them heart rocks.
I wish people would pay me to keep an art journal.
I wish people would pay me to travel around the world and Blog about it.
I wish people would pay me to make them kick ass strong cuban coffee.
I wish people would pay me to go camping in gorgeous sites.
I wish people would pay me for my creative & spontaneous sense of adventure.
I wish people would pay me to learn how to chill out.
I wish people would pay me to help them design pots of flowers and plan their landscape. (or to answer questions about how to design a landscape bed)
I wish people would pay me for the colorful animals that I paint and all my art experiments. A minimum price to cover the costs would be nice. I’m going to try this on Craigslist, but I suspect it won’t work.
I wish people would pay me for most of Norita’s ideas—to sketch and paint all day, to create one thing of beauty each day.
I wish people would pay me to see the best in them, although I really think this is just a kind gift I have and would give away for free.
I wish I could be paid to take trips to sketch and refresh my spirit. And to take naps, go swimming, and try new skills in a new peaceful environment.
I wish people would pay me to color code their books on their bookshelves
I wish people would pay me to make breakfast in bed and join them
I wish people would pay me to tickle their cats’ tummies
I wish people would pay me to witness their humanity and hand it back to them
I wish people would pay me to cozify their bedrooms and glorify their sock drawers
I wish people would pay me to write what’s right with the world
I wish people would pay me to tell them what’s wrong with their parenting
I wish people would pay me to watch foreign movies
I wish people would pay me to critique their biscuits and gravy
I wish people would pay me to tell them how fabulous they look in Fall colors
I wish people would visit me just to be with me for a while… 🙂
I wish people would pay me to smile at them.
I wish people would pay me to make witty conversation.
I wish people would pay me to giggle.
I wish people would pay me to exercise.
I wish people would pay me to listen to them emote.
I wish people would pay me to take a nap.
I do agree with all of the ideas you have presented in your post. They are very convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are too short for novices. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.