Exclusive | Humans and their heartfelt hopes on display at NYC’s New Year’s Eve Wishing Wall
Hundreds of people crowded into Times Square last week to write their hopes on the New Year’s Evening Wishing Wall. While many dreamed of the ordinary—losing weight, finding love, hitting the gym—a growing number also voiced a desire to see technology step back, with the phrase “No more AI” appearing on a handful of tissue‑paper wishes.
The Wishing Wall, which opened on December 1 and sits on Broadway between West 45th and West 47th streets, has already collected roughly 183,000 messages, including digital submissions. After the midnight ball drops on New Year’s Eve, volunteers will scatter about 3,000 pounds of confetti, a swarm that will inevitably include letters from the wall’s visitors.
Among the most common wishes were “read lots of books,” “have my dream body” and “fall in love,” reflecting everyday hopes. Many people also wrote money‑related dreams, asking for “a new car,” “a new house” or even “a new pair of glasses.” New‑York‑centric requests included “no more potholes,” “my fave restaurants stay in business,” and “for 311 to be effective.”
The wall also captured the voices of teens, students and couples. Eleven‑year‑old gymnastic star Leah Frisbie told The Post that she wanted “to get my aerial.” According to Frisbie, “It’s basically just a cartwheel, but with no hands.” 15‑year‑old basketball guard Alaina Small of Nashua, New Hampshire, set her sights on “winning the New Hampshire D1 Basketball Championship.”
College students added personal goals to the mix. 21‑year‑old University of Alabama student Sawyer Brooks wrote, “Get skinny,” explaining, “I feel like I am more confident in myself when I’m skinnier, and I feel better about myself every day when I wake up.” Another 21‑year‑old student from Florida Gulf Coast University, Emma Kate Sohoski, celebrated the 13‑month anniversary of her relationship with boyfriend Caden by writing both of their names and a heart on a confetti card, hoping “so that we can have a happy 2026 together.”
The wishes of a newly engaged couple added a romantic touch to the festivities. Jason Hrdina of Raleigh, North Carolina, visited the wall with Paige Degner‑Williamson, who had just proposed to him at the Rockefeller Center ice rink. Paige, who brings her two daughters—ages 18 and 14—to the newly blended family, wrote, “I wish for a happy family life for the rest of our lives together on Earth.” “We got two in high school and they go to different high schools, so we’re trying to figure it out, who goes where and what do we do,” she replied.
As the city prepared to welcome the new year, the wall stood as a quiet reminder that, even amid the hustle of Times Square, people still carry simple, human desires for health, love, family and a touch of hope for a different future.
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