When I was little, my older sister told me that the seeds from milkweed pods were wishes. “Catch one and wish on it!” she would say. “Then blow it to release it. If the wish goes up, it will come true. If it falls to the ground, it won’t.”

How thrilling to see the milkweed fluff catch the wind with a shimmering glimmer and dance away into the sky! But how very disappointing when deeply-felt wishes sank to the ground, tangling on other plants or drowning in a nearby puddle.

Every fall, I still seek out ripe milkweed pods, blowing wishes by the dozens into the air. But I am content now to let them fly or fall as they will. My fulfillment and contentment do not depend on a bit of silk tossed here and there on the air. These things depend upon me – upon what I choose to do with my life, and with what I choose to do with the tough things life throws my way.

Knowing that, I am free to stand in a field with the joy of a child, blowing milkweed wishes up to the sun.