The best thing I did all year.

wish_come_alive_again_800

I wish to come alive again, at the wish tree

wish_no_guns_800

I wish there was no guns, at the wish tree

wish_tree_forever_care_800

I wish this tree would stay forever and everybody would cared about it.

wish_parents_800

I wish my parents lived in the same house happily forever

wish_tree_2013_800

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:

more_tags_500

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!

button-register-blue

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?

      

18 Comments

  1. Posted September 27, 2013 at 5:30 pm | Permalink

    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

  2. Posted September 27, 2013 at 5:51 pm | Permalink

    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

  3. Posted September 27, 2013 at 8:40 pm | Permalink

    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!

  4. Paula
    Posted September 27, 2013 at 10:03 pm | Permalink

    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!

  5. Kelly
    Posted September 27, 2013 at 11:51 pm | Permalink

    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. :)

  6. Susan
    Posted September 28, 2013 at 12:42 am | Permalink

    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!

  7. Rebecca F.
    Posted September 29, 2013 at 2:19 am | Permalink

    That darn tree still makes me cry… In the spring, I will start my own tree.

  8. Elisa
    Posted September 29, 2013 at 11:19 pm | Permalink

    I’ve enjoyed the tree all year. Didn’t even know it was you!

  9. Posted September 30, 2013 at 7:55 am | Permalink

    am still doing Secret Salad SOciety. And am still involved in the Wild School. SO enjoyed Foolish Projects…

  10. Lisa
    Posted October 1, 2013 at 5:14 pm | Permalink

    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.

  11. Posted October 2, 2013 at 1:32 pm | Permalink

    Wow….Love it! That is so beautiful. As you can see I am partial to tags! Thanks so much for sharing. Touched my heart!

  12. Posted October 4, 2013 at 1:24 am | Permalink

    This site is inspiring! Keep up the good work.

    Funny super hero stuff: http://marveldcforum.com

  13. Posted October 8, 2013 at 1:40 am | Permalink

    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

  14. Posted October 9, 2013 at 7:28 pm | Permalink

    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?’ :D Love this. I need more foolish ideas in my life.

  15. Jennifer
    Posted October 15, 2013 at 8:50 pm | Permalink

    That boys note made me cry instantly!

  16. chives
    Posted October 16, 2013 at 4:28 pm | Permalink

    waterproof wish tags!

  17. Posted November 8, 2013 at 4:43 pm | Permalink

    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/

  18. Posted December 13, 2013 at 6:06 pm | Permalink

    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.

7 Trackbacks

  1. By Lose yourself in the moment on September 29, 2013 at 11:11 pm

    […] I am inspired by Andrea Scher’s wish tree. […]

  2. […] you were inspired by the wish tree and suspect you have a foolish project inside of you, please join […]

  3. […] I had no idea an online course called “Start a Foolish Project” would have me doing something so scary – or that it could possibly be the best thing I did all year. […]

  4. By You make me smile | Dana Barbieri on October 8, 2013 at 6:53 pm

    […] Scher creating a Wishing Tree in her yard. I LOVE this […]

  5. By Body Image Boosters From The Blogosphere 10.13.13 | Weightless on October 13, 2013 at 2:17 pm

    […] On starting foolish projects. […]

  6. By 25 Self-Care Strategies For Fall | Weightless on October 15, 2013 at 4:09 am

    […] – Make a wish tree. […]

  7. By Link Magic-11/8/2013 | McKella Sawyer on November 8, 2013 at 4:35 pm

    […] love this idea of a wishing tree, and I totally plan to have one […]

Post a Comment

Your email is never shared. Required fields are marked *

*
*