tales for dreamers: going on a wish hunt

The leaves have fallen. In their place have sprung up baubles of wishes. 

Glittering, golden spheres filled with desire and longing. 

It’s the season, after all, the time of the year in which as-yet-unfulfilled wishes are loud and clamouring for attention. As though they won’t let the year slip past without being fulfilled.

They say everything you can wish for is in these baubles. Wealth. Prosperity. Influence. Fame. Popularity. Even love.

But these things no longer interest me. I’ve seen them all before. They come, and then they disappear just as quickly as they arrive.

This year I’m looking for contentment. It's something I haven't had in a long, long time. I can't remember when I last had it, or if I even ever had it in the first place.

I’ve been asking every bauble, but none seem to have what I’m looking for.

They helpfully point me to this tree and that, to this neighbourhood and that. But no bauble has it; some haven’t even heard of it.

It’s too late now. Everyone else has their gifts wrapped and ready under the tree. 

I have no choice but to stop looking. To accept the failure of my attempts.

I am a little disappointed. But I tried my best, I tell myself. Maybe next year. Good things take time and all that. 

So I wear my comfy socks to soothe my tired feet, settle in bed with a good book and a warm blanket and a mug of hot chocolate, and send a silent prayer of thanks to the Universe for all the good things my life is filled with.

Funnily enough, that’s when contentment finds me.

Last week's image info: We went to the Canadian Royal Circus many years ago when it came to Burlington. The amazing acrobat inspired the tale, 'sprinkling magic for wish fulfillment', which I wrote more than three years after I took the picture.