Recently I interviewed New York Times #1 best-selling author DEBBIE MACOMBER for an upcoming Girlfriendology podcast. She’s written countless books and actually has over 100 million books in print! (really!) She was great in our interview as we discussed her new book, Twenty Wishes. Twenty Wishes is about just that – a group of women (widows, in this case) who decide to make a list of wishes and see what happens. And, things do happen!

I asked her where the idea of Twenty Wishes came from and she was delighted! She shared about one of her fans kept a list of wishes and shared them with Debbie on one of her book tours. From there, Debbie creatively crafted a book of women and the journey of their lives as they set those wishes free! (Debbie also has a fabulous contest for setting YOUR wishes free. Visit SetYourWishesFree to learn how to win $10,000 toward your dream.)

Talking with Debbie reminded me of my girlfriend Carol Abbott. A few years ago, Carol and I were in an entrepreneurial group. I was working with a coach (the wonderful Jane Pollack) who had presented a question to me, so I shared it with the group: “What would you do if money was no object?” Carol immediately, without a second of hesitation said, “I’d paint.” A successful technical writer/project manager, I don’t believe Carol was painting very much at the time – maybe casually taking a class from time to time – but obviously she had a passion for it so she courageously shared with us.

Fast forward to today, Carol has a wonderful business of painting primarily home portraits. Her colorful, ‘happy’ paintings convey the joy of the home and give it personality all it’s own. She also does other subjects (boats, historic monuments, neighborhood gathering places, etc.) - all with her creative and colorful style. Check out Cincinnati Home Portrait for her awesome artwork. (And she does do other locations, paintings from photos, products with your home/painting on them, etc.)

Carol inspires me. She is living her dream and has put the time and effort into it to become successful. She is in art shows, the Pendleton Art Center, Newport on the Levy – lots of local locations. She had a wish and she went for it!

Do you have dreams? Wishes like the women in Debbie Macomber’s new book Twenty Wishes? And, do your girlfriends? Share them with each other. Help each other reach for them and celebrate successes along the way. That’s what girlfriends do!

p.s. You can win a copy of Debbie Macomber’s new book Twenty Wishes on Girlfriendology.com (or one of the various other books we have in our monthly contest!). Just send us a girlfriend story. You can be the inspiration that helps your girlfriend reach for her dreams and set free her wishes! Go for it girlfriends!