Today I am 22 years old. 21 was a phenomenal year proving that I am living a beautiful life leading me to all the places I have ever dreamed of reaching and a life full of blessings.

My wishes for myself and for all:

First wish is for Family.  I hope they know they mean the world to me! May they each have all the happiness they deserve and may this year be filled with many blessings and good health.  

Second wish is for Friendship.  Thank you for always believing in my capability to achieve my dreams and for occasionally being that shoulder to lean on when I have needed it the most! I wish you all an abundance of happiness, a fulfillment of your dreams and goals, and an extraordinary future as we prepare to start new chapters of our lives this coming year.  

Third wish is for School. I wish that I do extremely well in school so that one day I can be in dental school. May I have all the mental and any type of strength needed to achieve this because I am willing to work hard to get there (dental school).  

Fourth wish is for Career. I wish for career satisfaction and development both in my current job and future profession as a dentist. I hope that I am able to do great things with the knowledge and skills I learn in school to one day give back to the world.

Fifth wish is for Dreams. “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” –Eleanor Roosevelt. I wish that all of us with big dreams not worry about how big the dream is or what people might think but that we work hard for our dreams and never stop believing.   

Sixth wish is for Confidence. I wish to never give up and to have the confidence to move forward and believe in what I am capable of achieving.

Seventh wish is for Travel. I wish to always have the opportunity to travel and explore the different world cultures for work related reasons, family vacations, or great times with friends. These are truly unforgettable opportunities.

Eighth wish is for Finance. May we live a simple life not consumed in insignificant things but I wish that we always have the security of having bread on the table and saving more for our futures rather than spending in the moment.

Ninth wish is for Health. I wish for our wellbeing and if a catastrophic illness invades our lives may we have the strength to overcome the situation. May we have healthy diets and the opportunity to exercise for our wellbeing.    

Tenth wish is for the World. I wish that the world continues to be a better place and that there are some of us out there who are working hard to take care of the problems that are present and improving things.    

Eleventh wish is for Spirituality. May we all find direction in our lives and if we are looking for something I hope we find what we are looking for. I wish to have an inner harmony in life and that special connection I always find in that special place with stained glass windows (where every part of me is known).

Twelfth wish is for Communities.  I wish to always have a commitment to my community. I hope to always return to my hometown and help those with big dreams and guide them as much as possible. I also hope that culture is always a big part of my life. My own and other cultures too.

Thirteenth wish is for Change. May we always know that it is important to have some type of direction in life but that change is something we cannot avoid. “All is flux and nothing stays still” –Heraclitus. I wish that we all understand this concept and embrace our changes.  May we have the ability to adapt.  

Fourteenth wish is for Strength & Courage. For the challenges that life brings. I wish to always find peace through strength and courage when things become difficult or cloudy. May we always find clarity and have minimized doubts.  

Fifteenth wish is for Failure. Sometimes a fear but in reality this is how we gain many important qualities in life, through failure. I wish that every time failure presents itself in my life, may I come back to prove that my stumble was the fuel to achieve my goal. Failure, while I welcome you into my life, I hope you know that I will come back stronger, more ferocious, and with an outcome of stronger grounds to stand on with lots of wisdom. Just know that I am resilient, we should all be.         

Sixteenth wish is for Inspiration. I have been fortunate to meet very inspirational mentors along the way. They have taught me the significance of life and to work hard to achieve my goals/dreams in life. Most importantly, to never give up on my goals and dreams. Words are not enough to express how thankful I am for having you in my life. I promise to always help those who need guidance now and always and to share the advice you have given to me. One day I will pass on “No Limits but the Sky.”  Thank you for embracing me.

Seventeenth wish is for Gratitude. May I never forget to be thankful for the many blessings in my life. I wish to always be humble and to always be thankful for my life and those in it. May we always be thankful for the good company of family and friends, their hugs, smiles, jokes, wisdom, kisses, and love. May we be thankful for life’s moments and that we meet interesting strangers with kind words in this journey of life.

Eighteenth is for Significance. May we live a life of significance. “I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will always eventually triumph. And there is purpose and worth to each and every life” –Ronald Reagan. I wish to grow and prosper with wisdom, significance, and to always extend a hand when I am able to do so without expecting nothing in return.

Nineteenth wish is for Love. Specifically for him.  Wherever you may be.  May we be making our way to each other and I hope that God gives us maps so that one day our paths finally cross. I wish for him to know that I wait for the day when we become best friends and begin to grow together to form a wonderful life together. Note: and when we finally find each other I will play for you “I’ve dreamed of you” by Barbra Streisand because it sums up this wish and my dreams of love.   

My twentieth wish is for my parents. It is one of my dreams to one day be able to fully live my life the way you two live. I hope to live by your examples and follow your footsteps of course with my own twist heh heh heh. You have been one of the greatest inspirations in my life. I wish you two a strong marriage, happiness, health, and may we continue to growth as a family. I hope that I am meeting your expectations and making you proud. May we always have a strong and healthy relationship. I love you mom and dad you are the best parents in the world!    

My twenty-first wish is for my brother. I want you to know that you are also my best friend and that many times I confide in you my biggest dreams and fears. Thank you for never failing me and always listening. I wish you a great life and may you grow up to be a good man and find your “calling”. I’m always here for you, I love you lots <- you have no idea! I have more to tell you but I’ll wait for your birthday (ironically swan lake plays as I write this for you).   

My twenty-second wish is for me. I wish to have another extraordinary year full of wonderful moments.

Thank you for an amazing 21years of life and I am excited for 22!

Giselle Serrano