I have this little ritual. Every time I find a penny, I make a wish and put it in a little mirrored box. If I find a dime, 10 wishes. You get the idea.

Recently I found a $5 bill on the floor of a restaurant, so it seems I’ve got an awful lot of wishing to do. Let’s knock out a few.

I wish …

… the blogosphere didn’t give me such a clear gauge at the amount of glee people get from others’ misfortunes, missteps and misdeeds.

… we would stop obsessively categorizing each other based on political affiliation because it’s shortsighted and shuts down so much possibility.

… Mel Gibson would reconnect with The Passion of the Christ and ask himself how his behavior in any way honors Jesus’ life and sacrifice.

… I could believe the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration when it says seafood from the Gulf of Mexico has been tested and that it’s safe.

… Lindsay Lohan would seek true, gut-wrenching change in her life and live the potential of her gifts.

… a good cry to all who need one, as opposed to glossing over their emotions with food, alcohol, drugs, etc.

… more people would tap into their creative juice and passions instead of what feels “practical” when making career decisions.

… LeBron James would quote his wife even a fraction of the times he quotes -- with all due respect -- his mother.

… more people understood the benefits of starting their day in a meditative way instead of numbing out with a television or computer as soon as they open their eyes.

… Deborah Solomon’s questions in The New York Times Sunday Magazine interview of fascinating people each week were less snarky.

… there was more respect for businesses designed to heal and bring deep-seated change to our lives instead of resistance to pay those making a living offering such life-transforming services.

… those who have a strong ability to give of themselves would do so more often and recognize their own power to effect change and create energetic shifts.

… I could share the feeling of centeredness that comes with rediscovering the song Beautiful by Christina Aguilera and stretching to it before each morning workout.

… more people would take the lead from what Sean Penn is doing in Haiti as shared on The Early Show this week; he built a relief organization and is there six months after the earthquake to see it through.

… the folks who have opted out of social media would not be so darned defensive about it. It’s OK.

… more television programming was as “sexist” as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart if it meant we could get that caliber of entertainment more often.

… I understood all the hoopla over a mosque being built near Ground Zero, which last I looked was located in the United States of America.

… the pluck of Susan Boyle to those looking for courage to make their singing dream happen; she is launching a competition to find a singer to duet with her on her next album because, according to her Web site, “the past year has been a wonderful gift and I wanted to be able to pass that gift on.”

Hmmmm. Maybe it’s really all one wish: More compassion, giving and centeredness.

Only 499 to go.

Nancy Colasurdo is a practicing life coach and freelance writer. Her Web site is www.nancola.com. Please direct all questions/comments to FOXGamePlan@gmail.com.