You have three magic genie wishes, what are you asking for?
Gotcha, the classic three wishes. To be honest, a trio of surefire requests is rather generous. It’s not quite the seven wishes that the devil grants Brendan Fraser in Bedazzled (2000). Nor is it the slam dunk contest with Nate Robinson where he was given twelve attempts to perfect his piece de resistance. Anyhow, three is certainly better than two and night and day compared to a single wish. Here are my three desires.
1. To be a bestselling author. When I was in school, I dreamt of becoming a pilot and astronaut. Physics and maths though weren’t my thing. As I penned articles for the school paper, I deduced that being a writer was more suitable. When it comes to genre, I’m quite versatile. As early as grade school, I was producing quality poems. My verses, titled ‘Musings’, was featured on our high school yearbook’s last page. As a sophomore, I got the banner headline. Since returning to Oz, my prose has been published in three magazines, including multiple times at Misyon. I’ve also won two local writing comps. Most importantly, I’ve published two books: a collection of stories and a self-help/memoir.
To release a best seller, a lot of things have to go your way. Penning the manuscript is one thing, but there’s also the design, editing, proofreading, marketing, and selling. You have to find an audience and sustain the momentum for the long-term. That’s easier said than done. In spite of the odds, we must soldier on. AI remember this story bit I wrote about a pedagogue and his pupil.
‘What is your dream, young man?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Then, ah, you’re nothing’.
2. To have good health. There’s this popular saying regarding one’s health. Being a cliche, I’m sure you’ve heard of it. ‘Health is wealth’, they say. When you’re hale, you take some things for granted. Whether it’s your diet or shelter, consistency is the key. We should avoid being careless with our well-being. We must ensure that we look after our physical, financial, and emotional needs.
Our health is the root of our integrity. With it, everything else falls in place. Once you’ve gained your essential needs, the rest comes easier. You won’t be able to enjoy these creature comforts bereft of robust health. In time, I’ve stumbled upon some practices that went a long way in bettering my well-being. For most of us, de-compressing might be a luxury. However, setting aside time to rest our foggy minds is of consequence.
Having a routine is a must. As Benjamin Franklin once said, ‘Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise’.
Practice and nurture good habits. Get rid of negativity. Don’t be a spectator. Join in on the action and flaunt your skills. Don’t give lip service. Today is the beginning of the rest of your life. Riches are just a means to an end. The more years you live, the more good you can do. Being consistently hale is truly a treasure in itself.
3. To find my soulmate. Yes, you read that right. This is the last of my three wishes. With good health and my writing, I believe that I control my own destiny. Thus, others in a similar position might ask for something else. With your soulmate, it’s a bit different. How will you know if you’d stumble on the one?
For starters, it helps if you have similar interests. That way, you’ll have lots to discuss. If you share share the same culture, then even better. Finding someone who complements your personality is ideal. Hopefully, she’ll be smart, kind, and patient. In addition, bonus points if she’s a zealous Catholic. I also believe that ‘Simplicity is beauty’.
