I wish I’d been instilled with a strong work ethic growing up. Perhaps if my maternal grandparents had been in my life. . . .
I sense a paradox here. Isn’t wanting (or “wishing” in a sense) to work essentially the core element of having a strong work ethic? There’s seems like an irony to wanting to want to work.
EDIT: I guess it isn’t even ironic so much as it is unhelpful.