If wishes were fishes, we’d all have gills.

One of my mom’s funniest sayings was, “If wishes were fishes, we’d all have gills.” She’d say it every time my sister and I would start with our endless ”I wish I had this” or “I wish we could do that.” At the time, I never thought much of it–it was just something she said when we were dreaming big about things we didn’t have. To us, it was just a funny way to shut down our constant wishful thinking. But I see now it was more than just a punchline–it was her way of giving us a little reality check.

Mom’s saying was a playful reminder that wishing alone doesn’t get you anywhere. If life worked like that, we’d all have everything we wanted, no effort required. But as much as we wished for things, she always knew that getting what you want takes more than just wanting it–you’ve got to work for it, wait for it, and sometimes make sacrifices to make those dreams a reality. It was her way of teaching us that life isn’t just about wishing for things; it’s about making things happen, one step at a time.

Now that I’m older, I realize how much that funny saying shaped my approach to life. It taught me that wishing for something isn’t enough–it’s about the effort you put in to make it happen. I still catch myself wishing for things now and then, but I hear my Mom’s voice in my head, reminding me that wishes are just the start. To turn them into something real, you’ve got to roll up your sleeves and get to work. 

These days, when I catch myself “wishing,” I try to write it down and break it into steps I can actually take. If you’re the same, this Dream Big Journal is a great place to capture those ideas and start making them real.