02/20/2026
Hello everyone,
Today I wanted to pause from some of the more intense reflections I’ve been sharing lately and offer something a little gentler, but still deeply connected to the work.
Many years ago, in a class where I was doing my own personal growth work, we were given an assignment that felt surprisingly confronting. The task was simple: ask for what you want. Not in a vague way but clearly, honestly, and without apology.
What surfaced for me immediately were all the old stories running in my head: It’s not appropriate to ask. I don’t deserve this. I shouldn’t want too much. Messages carried forward from childhood that had quietly shaped how I moved through the world. Confronting those mistaken beliefs opened a deeper door one that led to my real longings. And that’s where nourishment lives. That’s where self-care becomes real.
Out of that exercise came something I’ve been doing for over twenty years now: a birthday wish list. Every year, I write down what I wish for without editing, without limits. It’s become a powerful mirror. I get to see what I asked for the year before, what has arrived, what has fallen away, and what still matters. Some things stay on the list for years. Others disappear as growth happens. The practice itself shows me how I’ve changed.
The key is this: I don’t hold back. Nothing is off limits. And I believe your list shouldn’t be either. I do mine on my birthday, but you can do it anytime. The moment you give yourself permission to ask, something begins to shift.
This list isn’t about anyone else fulfilling it. No one is required to give me these things. The act of naming them is for me to give voice to what I want, so I can begin to manifest it in my own life. Some of these wishes may never come true, and that’s okay. But if I never put them out into the world, I can’t honestly expect them to arrive.
I’m sharing this in the hope that it inspires you to create your own version of a wish list. A space where there are no limits, no judgments, just curiosity about where you are and what you truly want.
If you feel moved, I’d love to see some of your lists shared in the comments below. It could be a beautiful way to witness one another.
Here is my wish list for 2026:
A prosperous year ahead
More personal contact
Success and joy throughout this year for me and the ones I care about.
2 million for Breathe and Rise with Hal (My new business, any amount will do but if you’re wishing, go big).
Donations toward my classes and training.
Invites to networking events or suggestions of ones to check out.
More nature around me.
Indian cookbooks and spices to go with them.
Trip to England and Scotland for Julia and me.
Trip to Iceland.
A new used CR-V 2016 model preferred.
A 3-wheeler Morgan car.
3D printer.
More books on SEI, coaching, breathwork or recommendations for reading.
Recommendations for some interesting seminars or events to go to.
Seeing my friends outside Chicago more.
Always expanding my world view.
A camera and editing software to make videos.
More coaching/breath working clients.
New coat/jacket I designed
Help revamp the back garden this spring.
Help cleaning and sorting through my storage locker.
Sell my CNC.
Re-strap and clean my armor and make repairs as needed.
A country not on the brink of civil war.
Wooded land, approximately 25-50 acres to build on.
Refining my website.
More training on Zoom.
Better health.
Thanks
In Service
Gary Hal Link
