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?