Recently, on November 11, we recognized Veterans Day in the United States. This is a day that honors all who have served in the armed forces, reflecting its origins as Armistice Day commemorating the end of World War I. The day is observed with national ceremonies at places like Arlington National Cemetery, local parades and tributes, and is a federal holiday with many government offices and schools closed. THANK YOU Veterans, including my dad who served in the United States Army, for fighting for our freedoms so we could live out our dreams!
As mentioned above, November 11 is significant for Veterans Day because it marks the end of World War I, with a temporary cease-fire taking effect at 11 a.m. on that day in 1918. Originally celebrated as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of that war, the holiday was renamed in 1954 to honor all American veterans of all wars, not just WWI. But there is a deeper and more spiritual significance as well. According to numerology, November 11 is a special day when the date aligns in perfect numeric harmony, opening a powerful doorway for spiritual growth. In addition, I have read that many people believe when you glance up and randomly see 11:11, it means you should make a wish or manifest your desires, because the angels are around you and they will make sure your wish is granted. I am not going to pass up that opportunity! Here is a post that talks more about spiritual signs from the universe and how we can tell they were intended for us to notice and garner peace and comfort: https://thepracticalpoet.com/a-mothers-love-from-walk-through-a-field-of-flowers/
Speaking of wishes, I was reminded of the poem Wishful Thinking from my latest book “Sow Seeds of Wisdom…” This next poem started off as a lighthearted list of wishes I would make if I was granted the opportunity to have wishes come true. All the typical things that people wish for made their way onto this list, including winning the lottery, weight loss, and waiting for the weekend to arrive. At first the wishes were all about me and what I wanted. But then it turned a little more serious when the list expanded to include things such as peace, solving world hunger, and eliminating crime. I think these are items that are most people’s list of things they would like to see improved in our lifetime. These are big-ticket items that no one alone can solve. But we don’t have to solve all the world’s problems on our own. We can make small changes that have a big impact. If you wish to help solve world hunger, volunteer at a food pantry, or assemble boxes of food and supplies to be shipped to third-world countries. Do you wish to help homeless pets? There are tons of shelters looking for help. And the list goes on and on. There are always opportunities to help out and do better in the world. Even if you don’t make your own wish come true, you might help make someone else’s wish come true. And isn’t that the best wish of all?
Wishful Thinking
Dear stars up in the sky
That shine so bold and bright,
I have so many random wishes
To send your way tonight.
I wish it was the weekend.
I wish for better weather.
I wish that when I walk in shorts
My thighs won’t rub together.
I wish for a beautiful sunset.
I wish for the day to begin.
I wish for the end of the workweek
And I pray for a lottery win.
I wish for love and happiness,
And I wish for a life of health.
And I’m just going to say it . . .
I wouldn’t turn down some wealth.
I wish for peace for our country,
And I wish for safety in schools.
I wish for proper punishment
For those who don’t follow the rules.
I wish for a world free of cancer.
I wish for no more disease.
I wish that no one would suffer;
Can you help me with that, please?
I wish for the warmth of summer.
I wish for the crispness of fall.
I wish for a magical winter snow
And to stay warm through it all.
I wish for a busy social life,
And I wish for some nights to lay low.
I wish for a house full of family,
And then I wish for them all to go!
What is it you wish for?
Are your wishes just like mine?
Do we have the same ambitions?
Do our dreams intertwine?
Do you find that you have similar
Goals and aspirations?
Or are your visions more worldwide,
Crossing over many nations?
Do you wish for world peace?
I believe that we all do.
Do you wish to end world hunger?
Well, I wish for that, too.
Do you wish for fame and fortune
And for all to know your name?
That is something I do not wish for,
So in that we’re not the same.
But we’re all human, and we all want
A life that is worth living.
A life that’s filled with purpose,
With less taking and more giving.
A life where we help each other
And everyone we know.
Where we can lend our skills
And allow others to grow.
But we often must use caution,
Because wishes can work in reverse.
Sometimes we wish for something,
And it ends up being a curse.
You may wish for more leisure and free time,
And the universe hears these demands.
Suddenly you find you’ve lost your job,
And have plenty of time on your hands!
The universe is listening,
And is always around to hear,
Our thoughts and words and wishes
That we toss into the air.
So some of our wishes are different,
While some overlap each other.
But overall we want the best
For the world, and for each other.
So if I only had one wish,
I know what I would do.
I’d wish on all the stars above
For your wishes to all come true.
-K.A. Bloch-
