My Christmas Wish List... not just for myself, but for everyone... Happy Holidays

Christmas Wishes

I wish for everyone to love freely. To let go of the fear, to just trust and feel. Put aside the pain of the past and love while you can. Surrender to the love in your heart, let it envelop you. Tell people how you feel, how much they mean to you.

I wish for differences to be embraced, not punished. Stop the persecution of religious beliefs. End female genital mutilation. Peacefully co-exist all over the globe. End the degradation of the native peoples in the US, in Australia, in Africa, everywhere. End racial discrimination.

Stop pushing twig-thin models as the ideal. Embrace the beauty that is woman in all her shapes. Discuss bulimia and anorexia. Stop teaching girls that you don't count if you don't look a certain way, that looks are more important than intelligence or kindheartedness.

I wish we could get back to the true spirit of Christmas. Back to the hope and love it represents. The beauty of life that was created, the faith in new possibilities. The celebration of winter, the warmth of family and friends. The wonder of icicles, snowflakes, snowmen and your breath in the air. The slumber of Mother Nature as she awaits rebirth.

I want to be able to switch places with someone who doesn't want the snow. Even just for one day. For everyone to have that chance. To make a snowman, throw a snowball, to sled with childlike abandon.

I wish for everyone to have enough to eat. No fights over water, no food rationing. No wasting, no rotting food left in the fields. No children starving to death.

I wish for medicines to be available to all. Vaccinations for all children, whether in third world countries or in rural America. Pharmecutical companies to charge a fair price, to donate to the needy. For insurance companies to pay for name brands, not just generics. To cover birth control as well as Viagra.

I wish for everyone, regardless of gender, age, education or race to make a fair wage. To have the chance to support their families. To work with dignity and respect. To have an opportunity for higher education, for job advancement, for retirement before death.

For our children and teachers to have safety at school, to learn without fear. Appreciation for teachers on the hard job they do. For plenty of learning materials, up to date textbooks, small enough teacher-student ratios. For extra help when needed, money for afterschool programs and extra-curricular activities. For respect and manners to exist in schools. Parents and guardians to take part. Companies to donate goods, services, time and money.

I wish for responsibility from parents. For the absent parent(s) to financially support their children. For the custodial parent(s) to do the same. Teach your children respect, manners, responsibility. Don't leave this to the schools. Spend time with your children, love them, know them, help them, guide them. Encourage them, show them how to love, to care, to succeed. Don't leave this to strangers, to teachers, to mentors. Certainly don't leave it to other children or the police and justice system. Discipline your children, strongly, but fairly - with positive words, not fists.

I want for everyone to look around and see what they have. Appreciate it, don't take it for granted, it could soon be gone. Your friends, your family; appreciate the friendship, the comfort, the advice. Your home, your belongings, your life, your freedom.

I wish for us to all appreciate those who came before us. Those who fought and died so you could be free. Those who are still living and those still fighting. Those who discovered new worlds, cures for diseases, wonderful inventions. Those who spoke out. Even appreciate those who invented the silly things. Gak, Veggie Tales, spinning lollipops - for they have given you joy and laughter.

I wish for everyone to believe in the magic of Christmas. The songs, the lights, the smells the sounds. And in Santa. To remember wishing for that one ultimate gift. Remember leaving out cookies, making your list, being good, hanging your stocking. You are never too old for this.

I wish for everyone to remember there is still life. Still hope, magic, love and faith. There are new experiences waiting, new friends, new loves. Families in the making. Discoveries, surprises, adventures, miracles. There is a new year just waiting to happen. Make an impact. Make it special.