We are commemorating four years of the Warrior of Light Online, which currently has almost 100,000 subscribers. Many thanks for your constant support! We celebrate this number with a person who left a deep mark on my life. I suggest that each one of you look into your childhood to find the character who helped to forge the sword of the Warrior of Light.
My unforgettable character
When I was a child I used to read a magazine that my parents subscribed to, which had a section called “My unforgettable character” for common people to talk about other common people who had influenced their lives. Of course, at that age (nine or ten), I also had already created my influential personality. On the other hand, I was certain that over the years this model would change, so I decided not to write to the magazine and submit my opinion (today I wonder how in those days they would have received the collaboration of someone my age).
Time has passed by. I have met many interesting people who have helped me at difficult moments and inspired me and shown me paths that had to be traveled. However, the great myths of childhood have always proved more powerful; they go through periods of devaluation, contestation and oblivion, but they remain, appearing on necessary occasions with their values, examples and attitudes.
My unforgettable character was called José, my grandfather’s youngest brother. He never married, worked as an engineer for may years, and when he retired he decided to live in Araruama, a city near Rio de Janeiro. That is where the whole family went to spend the summer holidays with the children. Uncle José was a bachelor, so he probably did not have much patience with that invasion, but that was the only moment when he could share a little of his loneliness with his grandnephews and nieces. He was also an inventor, and to accommodate us he decided to build a house where the rooms only appeared during the summer! He pressed a button and the walls descended from the roof, the beds and cupboards emerged from the outer walls, and there we had four bedrooms to lodge the newly-arrived! When Carnival was over, the walls were raised, the furniture went back inside the outer walls and the house was once more a big empty shed where he kept material for his workshop.
He built cars. Not just that, but he made a special vehicle to take the family to Araruama Lake – a mixture of jeep and train on tires. We went swimming, lived close to nature, spent the whole day playing, and I always wondered: “But why does he live here all alone? He has money, he could live in Rio!” He told stories of his trips to the United States, where he had worked in coal mines and ventured to places never visited before. The family used to say: “It’s all lies”. He was always dressed as a mechanic, and all the relatives commented: “He should get himself some decent clothes”. As soon as television came to Brazil, he bought a set and put it on the sidewalk so that the whole street could see the programs.
He taught me to love things done with the heart. He showed me the importance of doing what you wanted to do, regardless of what the others said. He sheltered me when as a rebellious adolescent I had problems with my parents. One day he told me: “I invented the hydramatic (the automatic gear shift in a car). I went to Detroit, got in touch with General Motors; they offered me US$ 10,000 on the spot or one dollar for every car sold with this new system. I took the ten thousand and lived the most fantastic years of my life.”
The family used to say: “Uncle José is always inventing things, don’t believe him.” And although I felt deep admiration for his adventures, for his style of life, for his generosity, I did not believe that story. I told journalist Fernando Morais about it only because Uncle José was my unforgettable character.
Fernando decided to do some checking and here is what he came up with (the text has been edited, because it is part of a long article):
“The first automatic gear shift was invented by the Sturtevant brothers from Boston in 1904. The system did not work satisfactorily because of a problem with weight. But it was the invention of Brazilians Fernando Iehly de Lemos and José Braz Araripe, sold to GM in 1932, that contributed to the development of the hydramatic system launched by GM in 1939.”
With millions of hydramatic cars being turned out every year, the family who never believed in anything and thought that Uncle José dressed badly could have inherited an incalculable fortune. How good it is to know that he enjoyed some happy years spending his ten thousand dollars!
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Dear Paulo and the warriors of light,
thank u very much in restoring my faith .
god bless u .
charu.
dear Paulo,
4 years back i started reading ur books.. But i am late to find out this blog..(Better late than Never… right??)
It is really wonderfull to read the thoughts of the readers of my favourite writer..
Thanks for keeping this bond, it lightens my way….
lots of love to u all…
Paulo,
Thank you for your wisdom and compassion. I have been in love with one man for several years and we are getting married in March. It is a dream come true. We keep your words close to our hearts as our day approaches: Love is never something that keeps you from realizing your personal legend and dreams but something that helps you along life’s journey. Even, sometimes, if that means letting go for a time to let the one you love find their treasure. Love always finds its way back home. Thank you for being a warrior of the light in these times of confusion.
May God bless you and your family always!
Your Uncle Jose is a great man, but am wondering was life fair to him? Since he lived lonely?
A great man like him who have all that love to share it with all people from relatives to street passers…
Do you think that he lived happily?
I heard an old man saying that he regret not having a wife that he could chat with her over a cup of coffee and consult with her to let him know what to do in life and even in business.
Men always need women in their life. We do not want to list the reasons for that, but the simplest one is to found a partner that you could talk to and that could listen to you.
Be Safe,
Suha
Thank you Paulo.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for showing how to use the sword of the Warrior of the Light.
Thank you for sharing your faith and belief.
Thank you Warriors, for sharing your stories.
Love, Light, Life.
Mirjam
Dear Paulo Coelho,
I bought your book “Like the Flowing River” It is full of gems of inspiration for everyone on this earth. The book gave your web address. That is how I am able to read your story of your fantastic Uncle Jose. My spirits got uplifted after reading it. Your uncle is a reamrkable man with such a loving heart. Your story has touched my heart. We are all basically the same individualls wherever we may be living or talking different languages. Your message in life seem helps one to understand the great mystery of life and we all have to bow our heads to it. If people realise that none of us are permanent in this world, there will be less violence and fighting but more harmonyand peace. LIfe is indeed beautiful and every minute of it is worth living only if we care for our felow men. Now I plan to buy all of your books and read them. May God grant you good health so that your books and stories continue to inspire all people all over the world. I salute you and offer ,my humble respects.
Sincerely yours,
Patre Rajashekhar
Hello All,
My unforgettable character is, in contradition to Paulo’s experience, not a person of my youth, but a youth who I first met at the start of the war in Iraq.
He was Hussain, an 18 year old boy, refugee from Bagdad and I was his 45 year old teacher communications in The Netherlands.
Hussain had a problem with communication, he never said more than necessary. This behaviour was not accepted by his fellow students and they started complaining. Ignorant as I was, I agreed with them and decided to force him into speaking.
How ashamed I felt when he looked at me and said: “Ever since I went to school, my mother taught me never to say more than necessary. Each word too many can threaten you and the ones you love.” And then he told the class the story of an 11-year old boy who had to leave his beloved Bagdad and finally came to cold, rainy Holland in order to start a new life. None of us dared to say a word, because of respect for Hussain’s tears. But also because of shame, because we had judged before knowing, even before thinking.
Hussain’s tears were not over after this event. Shortly after the fall of the dictator who had the same name, he went to visit Bagdad. His experiences there were so terrible that he came back in Holland completely empty. He could not speak anymore, didn’t know what to do anymore. Had no dreams anymore. He left. Simply walked out of my life. I cried for this a long time. I had never lost a student in such a terrible way.
And then I read The Alchemist, and after that all the other books from Paulo available in The Netherlands. The Zahir made me search for new things in life and thanks to Houssain I was able to get to know various Islamatic people who I now see as my very best friends.
And after a long time I got a short e-mail from another part of the world: “Thank you for helping me. One day I will explain what happened. I love you so much.” Signed: Houssain.
Thank you Houssain, you opened my eyes for a world I had never heard of, a gift that finally enriched my life more than I could ever have dreamt of.
Ellen from The Netherlands
Hello Paulo and All again,
One of the characters that has profoundly made an impact on me is my own father. I didn’t always see this in him, in fact there was often time when I didn’t like him and had a lot of anger towards him. Until I see him in me, in the way I response towards life itself.
You see, while growing up, he taught me to reach for the highest possible things I could reach for and fed my intellect with the best education he could afford, without discriminating whether I was a girl or a boy. Yet he also taught me to reach high without lifting the soles of my feet. He fed me with the awareness of real life by bringing me to streets of Cairo, where houses were made of mud and kids had their faces covered with flies.
On my journey now, I choked to see those memories flooded through me, and have realised how much he had shaped me to where I am today.
I’m doing well today, yet I know that I need a sense of humility from time to time. The humility that doing well on my own is just not good enough when many people are still suffering and I have not used my power to change that. Every step I make, my father is in my spirit. Being my conscience that “we are not here for ourselves alone”.
I still cannot talk to my father openly to this day. Because it is just not in our culture to talk this way, and I don’t think he would understand because he didn’t do it out of something he can comprehend himself. He did it out of his genuine spirit. But through this blog, you are all my witnesses as to what I feel towards my father.
God bless you all, for listening to my story.
Rima
Hello Paulo,
I love the thought that your writing provokes in me, as always. This is a sidetrack to your story and perhaps totally shallow question …but why was your uncle Jose never married, and was there a story of loneliness (or not) in there? I’m just curious.
Have a great day.
Dear Paulo,
It was such a touching story from your life. Indeed it was beautifully written. And as it is any thing that paulo touches is Gold (Yaa the Midas touch).
But frankly, i just did not understand what was the exact message that was to be conveyed across?!
Was it that you should do as u feel like doing irrespective of the opinions of others.
OR
Was it something else that i missed??!
I am a huge fan of yours, but some times i do question your ideas too. ;)
I know i maybe wrong (99.9%) but still i like to question.
I read Zahir, it was a nice book, but dont you think that the protagonist of the novel was way deep into being unfaithful to his wife. Did he deserve her back in his life??
May be yes but then even he does then should she accept him??
I dunno i am a kid may be wrong but would definitely like to hear from you.
Regards,
Prakhar
P.S.: I am not that small. I am 24 and have read most of your works in English (More than 5 times each).
Dear Paulo,
It is a great thing that WLO exists and enrolls so many subscribers in different parts of the world. Your messages are always simple yet profound. I’ve started an adventure, a journey and there is no turning back.
This wonderful story about your uncle has resonated with me so much that I sat and thought of all the characters, who shaped my life. My unforgettable character was called Serafima, my grandmother. I am about 50 now but the tales told by her in my childhood are still in my memory. She was very generous and kind to everybody. It was amazing how this illiterate woman knew so many parables. Some of them she made up to the appropriate situation. I remember she cured children from fears saying special prayers. She taught me what unconditional love is. I always wear a golden ring that she presented me shortly before death. I believe things have soul too.Sometimes I feel her presence so clearly.
Thank you, dear Paulo for the WLO once more.
Nona
Hi Paulo!
It is a new provocation to hear.
I haven’t a special person to say Thank you to my personality.
Everyone have leaved a piece of themself inside my soul.
Everyone in the dark or light time have leaved something to me.
One of the last person is a writeres that have signed my personality.
My lesson it was about the my battle with meself.
I would obtain something whole it was very important to me and I did not look who was the person in front of me! My battle is open at the moment, I don’t know the end, but to the next time I will start my battle from a different step.
Have a nice day
[quote comment="221"]READ THE ZAHIR… IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE
I WANT SOME MORE BOOKS OF PAULO
IS ANYBODY GONE THROUGH “AT THE BANK OF RIVER….[/quote]
Yes, ‘At the bank of River Piedra I sat….and wept…..’ I read it, long time ago in Dutch….and just finished reading ‘The Zahir’….and I agree….these books of Paulo (evenso the other ones….) gave me a change of feeling and living my life….enjoying it to the fullest……
to you dear paulo… who knows the language of silence!
AT THE END OF EVERY DAY….?
AT THE END OF EVERY DAY’ I PONDER,
ABOUT THAT I HAVE ACHIEVED,
AND THAT I HAVE’NT.
IN ALL MY SURMISE’ I KNOW
I MIGHT NOT SEE TOMORROWS SUNRISE?
ON WHAT’S IT
THAT I’D LIKE TO DO MOST,
IF TOMORROW WERE TO TURN ME
INTO LIFE’S GHOST?
IT’S JUST A SHORT TIME REALLY…
24 HRS, ONE DAY, 60 MINUTES….’
TO SECURE MY FUTURE,
GIVE MY WIFE A TREAT,
RID MY DAD OFF THE BURDEN OF HIS DEBT,
HUG MY CHILDREN
TUCK THEM TO BED.
AN’ TIME IT’S LAUGHIN’
MOCKIN AT ME YET!
MY FOOLISH INTERPRETATION OF A
ROCKING TOMORROW’
BY AN EGO OF A BODY,
WHICH IS PROBABLY ALREADY DEAD!
u are right paulo, the message in alchemist was’ that everthing that u ever wanted was always already there.. but yet u have to take that journey, to know that, to discover the true treasure hidden beneath the sheath of ur core called the soul you have to go the path never travelled by, you have to toil the soil until maybe eternity dies.. and then jus like th revelation of the sun while it was all dark a while ago u have the whole world glowin…. the spark of illumination of the spirit you carry in your spirituality is very vivid while i run my eyes thru the passages of ur journey in your book ‘like a flowing river’…
i wish the seeker in you a journey across the thousand petals of lotus where you get to experience the light of a million sun… and yet dont have to blink a lid
happy adventures :)
It is a blessing to have people like Uncle Jose touch our lives. I have just bought your book Like The Flowing River here in Sydney and in true Paulo Coehlo style and have only read the first couple of pages.
I am very glad that you pursued your calling to be a writer. The world is a much better place for it.
Love & Light,
Thea
who has been the influences in my life,many people first my friends cause each one of them has a character we were teaching each other how to change our lives and get it comfort withoyt knowing that,first we were in scouts du liban,we lived all mthe most days with each other,strugling fighting,caring and worrying but most of that what inside that we love eack other but not showing that,and specially in the big camp of summer everyone has trying to show his best in the technical nature that waht we called but what we didn’t know about showing who was the best in managing the camp that we made links in our intentions that we all wanna have a better camp for the children that they were between 12 years and 16…now all of my friends including me have some relation between our behavior or we used to do the same things as we are twins or mor than two,now after 18 years of friendship and passing all the problems during the years,we are together even if we change the ncountries cause of work,but still the influence between each other and the most beautiful things that when we met all of us in one place,we try to remember the old things and laugh about how we were fighting for such a silly thing but it was important in that time…all i wanna say that no one can change his friend or the other,accept it as he is cause we fall before in this situation how we tried to change each other as i want or he but this my character and his character,god made it and still,so they are my life,and the are my unforgettable character(s) and i realized and still that we are one in diffrent bodies…may ALLAH bless us…
Dear Paulo,
Thankyou for yet another short story that once again, opens the heart, fills the soul, and gives hope for the future. Where does all that inspiration evolve from? Thankyou.
I have my own ‘Unforgetable Character’. My own father. But unfortunately, for all the wrong reasons. When I was around eleven years old, I remember my father being kind person, he was happy, thoughtful and sincere. But he also drank heavily, was sometimes angry, and occasionally, would completely lose it. He also abused and mostly neglected, the love of my hardworking mother, of me, and my two brothers too. And all the other great things that he took for granted. I think he was outwardly rich, but inwardly poor. He was somebody who found it hard expressing emotion. And that was when he was around at all.
But for all his absence, his moods, and his drunken entrances at three in the morning. For all the times that he smashed up the house, ruined christmas, or threatened to burn the house down, we still loved him. Logically, sensibly, we shouldn’t have, after all, he had put us through such hell. He had robbed part of our childhood. Our freedom. But, he was still our father. The only ‘man’ in the house. The only hero we had. And after all, love doesn’t always know when to say NO!
Many years later, after I had married, and also had kids, and been successful, and done all the stupid things that I remembered my father doing, I realised the truth. Earning a living, paying bills, raising a family, and feeding them too, does take it out of you. It can, if uncontrolled, drive you to the edge, make you drink, make you disappear for days on end. It can and often does…make you eventually, even become something you once detested. Your father.
But this is not a sad or pathetic ending. It is not an opportunity to critisize my upbringing, or blame my father for everything I didn’t get to do. Quite the contrary. What my father’s example showed me, and my brothers, was how NOT to behave. By the example he set, by the actions he showed, we learnt how NOT to behave. By default, we learnt how to treat someone you love, your kids, friends, the relationships that mean something, with the utmost respect. We learnt that you should not always run away when things get hard. Or the going gets tough. Yet, he showed us so much. We have so much to thank him for, but not least, the gift he gave us about forgiveness. How to forgive, and how to learn. He taught us the vital lesson that even negatives in life give us invaluable life lessons. They teach us what NOT to do. What NOT to become.
And look how well we have now done. He gave us three brothers the strength to stand on our own two feet. How to stand up for ourselves. How to barter. How to do so many things. With a large publishing deal around the corner, I’ve realised my dream. I’ve fought the good fight. And my brothers, they too, have become millionaires doing something they love. So thanks Dad. Thanks for the lessons, and the pain, and the suffering. And thanks too for the many enthralling conversations I still have with him every sunday morning. He has truly been an ‘unforgetable character’ painted across my life. For all the wrong reasons, and paradoxically, for all the right reasons too.
GOD BLESS PAULO. And thankyou too, for the many insights, wisdom and great stories that have lite up big chunks of my life.
Best regards, William Murtha
Four Years – wow, congrats! A friend of mine introduced me to Warrior of Light about four weeks ago after I read The Alchemist and I’ve really enjoyed this site.
dear paul,
this is a most amazing story about your uncle jose and how he could have shaped your thinking as a story teller / or as the maggi/ writer.
but then, everything that you write is so full of grit that changes perceptions of everyday life as actual miracles.
i just so love you.
im obsessed with your stories after i read Alchemist.And the previous one is too good, i din believe first when i read uncle jossie invented automatic gear sysytem…I even checked GM site and it was true……..u had everything for your growth…every environment
One of my unforgettable characters passed away on 9/23- her 91st birthday. I met her cross country skiing, I knew her daughter from living in this small town. Ruby told me she needed someone to ride her horse. I had not ridden in many years and only did ride when I was dating a ranchers son many years ago. She told me “if a 83 year old woman can ride, a 27 year one sure can!”. So started our friendship. The horse was smart, it knew it’s rider and was mellow with Ruby, but wild with me. Kind of like Ruby, I went with her to a senior lunch and she was sweet and polite to her peers. At the funeral I heard from a true cowboy how she would come over and drink whiskey with him. Here is one of her favorite poems;
She loves the touch of thistledown,
The feel of furrybacks;
She’ll watch a red fox for an hour
and flair a badgers’ tracks
For she is wild and elfin brown,
and when a kill deer calls, or at night the wild geese honk,
She can abide no walls.
And should she die, she’ll laugh and dance
And toss her wind blown head
Between the tombstones and the sun
and shock the Ancient dead.
by Arthur Stringer
Thank you Paulo for giving us WOL and all this; you are my favorite author and inspiration.
Un beso-
M
Oops! I got cut off before saying goodbye! :)
Thanks for listening to me rattle on about my child. ;) I’m not trying to ‘gush’, just amazed at how people really do come into this world with distinct personalities, and I personally take no credit for his patience and wonderful qualities of healing and living in the moment. I could learn a lot from him! Which is probably why he’s here! :)
Wishing everyone a peaceful day! Looking forward to chatting with Paulo on Beliefnet tomorrow! Yay! See ya there, Paulo!
Love,
Deb :)
Hello,
Me again. :) Back with a smiley face and everything.
I just had a neat little experience with one of my boys and wanted to share it, since, he’s one of the little ‘characters’ in my life. His name is Max. He’s 15 nd he was immaculatey conceived, by the way. Ha! :)
First off, this boy, when he was only 3, hardly spoke, as his older brother wouldn’t let him get a word in edgewise. (We won’t mention who HE takes after!Ha!)
Max was so patient, I had never seen anything like it! He would play with his blocks and whenever something fell apart, would patiently put it back together over and over again. My other son would normally scream at the slightest problem.
I was so impressed that I said, ‘Wow, Max! You are SO patient! Do you know what it means to be ‘patient?’
Max replied without looking up from his play, ‘Yes. Peace.’ But he said it in a three year old’s accent and I didn’t understand at first, so, I asked, ‘what did you say?”
He said, without looking up, ‘Peace. It’s when you have peace inside of you.’
At THREE YEARS OLD he came up with this definition of the word ‘patience’ that I don’t think I could have defined so well.
He’s very intuitive, often telling us things before they happen, and sensing troubles and illnesses then helps us to heal from them. He’s such a sweet kid.
Well, today, we went for a walk together. I noticed how beautiful the sky was and felt inspired to paint it. Max used to paint very well when he was younger, and I said, ‘Do you ever feel inspired to paint anymore? And, what about Pottery? Would you like to do some pottery later today?” He said to me, ‘I am walking right now.’
I said, ‘yeah, so?”
He said, ‘I am walking right now. That is all.’
I laughed and said, ‘OK Mr. Zen Master, I get it!’ ;)
And I realized that he wasn’t saying it to be a smart ass, or to put me off, but, whenever I’ve asked him if he felt like doing something ‘later’, he’ll always tell me that he doesn’t know how he’ll feel at that time.
I must say that I’ve never before thought about who has been the influence in my life. But while trying to single out one person as being the most influential, I realized that for me that was simply impossible. Every time I thought deeply about what a certain person meant to me, invariably another person would also spring to mind and so on. After yo-yoing backwards and forwards like this I came to the conclusion that everyone I know and have known have all influenced me in some way, some more so than others, but no one stands head and shoulders above the rest so as to be called my sole ‘unforgettable character’.
Those that have made it to my ‘short’ list of ‘unforgettable characters’ all tend to have the same underlying qualities, they are/were self-assured, happy and positive people. Some were very popular in social circles, while others were total outcasts. I will always be grateful for all their contributions to my life!
While I was thinking on this matter I did however realize that there is one person who has never abandoned me yet. He is always around, and with the help and guidance of his friends, family and loved ones, helps me out, guides me, loves me, comforts me, runs me down, gets angry with me and sometimes hates me. That person is myself!
I also started thinking that if I could possibly ever be classified as someone else’s ‘unforgettable character’; what would be the reason? Don’t know!
There is one thing that this whole meditation taught me, and that I must try and live my life aspiring to the benchmarks which have been set by all those whom I classify as my ‘unforgettable characters’. This can only make me a better bloke.
Hope this isn’t all total gibberish!
Thank you Paolo for this WOL issue!
Your articles sure get the mind working!
Without it I would never have thought about or recognized the amazing contributions all my fantastic ‘unforgettable characters’ have made in my life.
Thanks again to all.
Keep on smiling!
Dear Paulo,
Thank you for all the inspiration. And thanks you for giving a name to what I always was, and making making it easier to get through when darkess seems to surround completely and hope is dying.
Alla
Dear Paulo,
You touched my heart once again….
Thanks to creator for his coincidences…
When we give a little smile to universe, it replies with a big loud laughter..
Today mine was your little story…
thanks for that
Love,
Nur
Adabz :) ( means Hello in urdu language )
Paulo Coellho Thank you very much for sharing this story
May Allah always bless You
Love,
Fatima
Dear Paolo,
I bet you must have been your uncle José´s favourite nephew. With his ingenuity he must have known that you would develop into a Warrior of the Light….. actually – being himself a Warrior of the Light – it certainly was he who planted the seed in your heart. If he hasn´t come back yet I´m sure he is still one of your “guides” all the time.
Actually, I have never thought about persons who were REALLY showing me the right direction to go; just now I realized that It was my grandmother . I remember – when I was a young girl of 10 – she came to visit us – she liked to tell the story about having been a priest in her past life (in the Tyrolean Alps) I loved her story, and everytime I saw her I asked her: Please Grandma tell me more about the life when you were a priest.
This is how I learnt for the first time about reincarnation…. quite a venture – fifty years ago – coming out of a Catholic family
Dear Paolo, you are a precious shining jewel in this world.
God bless you.
Yours Monica.
PS. Many greetings to Maria from Brazil. Maria – I miss your comments!
How are you?
What a wonderful story! (And wonderful comments. ;-) )
Fantastic story Paulo!
Sorry haven’t written sooner. Father had a small stroke.
Best Wishes darlin
Lisa
Hello Paulo,
I also enjoyed reading about Uncle Jose. Although he was imperfect in the eyes of the world, you saw his perfection because, as you’ve taught, a Warrior of Light only looks upon the heart.
I reread your story and realized that you said that you also didn’t believe his story about his invention for Detroit, and I marvelled at how easy (and sad) it is for us to get distracted from our true vision of the goodness of others when we fall prey to others’ beliefs.
I tried to think of who has inspired me, and, it’s an endless array of people, much like Dawn wrote above…..how every person plays some role in our ‘make-up’. I couldn’t narrow it down to one person.
I did distill it down, however, to a few qualities that I saw in the people that I found interesting. They were all imperfect people and not afraid to show it. They cared about others enough to truly listen with undivided attention, found and only focused upon the good in people, were encouraging and inspiring.
I am perpetually amazed at how much a person’s life can change just because someone took the time to really listen to them. One of the most basic needs as humans, I believe, is the need to be heard.
And with that, I just wanted to also mention to Kristen that you ARE making a difference in the world every day of your life – not only by teaching the future generation (which is a very noble, and worthwhile contribution)- but, also, just by being you! No need to go out searching for something you already have – although, it is still fun to journey, even though it always leads you back to your self.
My prayer for us all today is that we listen with an open heart and undivided attention to all who cross our paths, and may we also be heard with love by those around us.
I was just about to close this posting after the last line when my husband called me from work to tell me about a story he read on MSN.com about ‘Killer blogs’ which discussed murderers who write about their devilish plans online in their blogs.
People really do need to be heard or, in these cases, need to confess.
It makes me wonder about whether people would still commit crimes like this if they had been ‘heard’ by loving people when they were children.
Or, is being a murderer just their lot in life, and that they fill a need (play a character) in the Universal plot of our existence. And that they can’t help but to follow this path, because it is their destiny. (??) And they just need to express themselves. (??)
I don’t know the answer to any of this. Just pondering….sorry to have digressed!
So, anyhow, God bless you and thank you, Paulo, and everyone else here….for listening.
Sincerely,
-Deb, who is feeling a bit on the somber side after thinking about those poor souls who commit murder and other heinous acts, and their victims. :(
Peace and love to all.
I leave in the country of beautiful Greece after spending 27 years in the States. I was born in Greece and left here when I was 13 to return in 2003. I started reading Paulo’s books a few months ago. They are great inspirational stories which touch my heart deeply since I identify so much with what is said and they free my mind. I read them in Greek, the translations are great I think because culturally we are very similar, in the sense of experiences, sentimentality and expression. I hope he writes more because I am almost done with all his books. By the way if you haven’t read Marquez…he is also incredible! As for this story I can name a few people who have had a profound influence on me including my parents and siblings and my kids. I love people who have so much to say and offer and age has nothing to do with this. Some people have the gift of letting their heart and their love lead even when they get older instead of just their mind. I believe that in the world we learn to suppress our heart and let our minds lead. But our mind is full of preconceptions, prejudices etc. If we just stop and think how we were when we were children, we can feel that there is a power there in the children’s minds/hearts before they are molded to this or that. And that power is the longing of being happy, making others happy and enjoying life and love of nature, people. There are people that can help us do that for me that is what Paolo does. I also have a few great friends who have this profound influence on me, which is the effort to re-simplify and enjoy by giving love and receving what a person offers from their heart to you without keeping score.
last night i read the page about sex, and how to give yourself to the experience. i thought that maybe i must try to relax and give myself to life.
following the instructions that seemed to come to my mind, i got a bowl and a spoon. then i cleaned the bowl. then i put 5 pieces of corn in the bowl. then i looked at it. it seemed to me in my mind that there was water in the bowl, and that a tree was growing from it. it seemed to be the tree of life. the tree was protecting me. it said that it was night, so i must go to bed. it said that each person has a unique and special way of being, and that the tree each has a special use for each person. so that i mustnt worry if some people arent the same as me. they each have their way and that each one is special in their own way and has a way of being that they need to be for their role. i was greatly relieved by this.
i used to think that these ways of thinking werent allowed or werent real. reading the alchemist, and then the pilgrimage, relieved me a huge amount. now i have a place i can learn.
thankyou so much for that.
after reading your article this morning, i’ve been trying to think of the people who had the biggest impact in my life. the one who jumped immediately to my mind was my honduran grandfather humberto. although, he was not the best example when it came to being extremely faithful to my grandmother (which i only realized, when i was older anyway), he showed me to walk my own way with an open heart and an open mind, no matter what other people might say about you.
we were very close, in spite of the huge distance germany/honduras. i keep all his letters, which always “ground” me right away reading them, when i encounter “unsolvable” problems on my road of life.
thank you so much paolo, for sharing your stories with us.
amor&luz.
The Warrior of Light always arrives when I’m loooking for answers or inspiration. My Unforgettable Character is my Aya who was always there when my mum was ‘absent’. She not only loved us but instilled in us the basic fundamentals of being.
Keep writing the ‘Warrior of Light’ it guides us, the warriors.
“Listen to the Heart” is sometimes easier to say than to do, i think. In some peoples lifes more than in others maybe. And if you do, it’s not for shure, that Life shows you, that you’ve made the right decission. I’m 37 years old now, living in Germany, and a remarkable Moment in my life, in which I really did want I wanted to do, was at the age of 28. I broke with a lot of things, ended an long-year-relationship (the good old 7-years!), canceled my job and decided to study acting. At that time, it was the only thing, I could imagine to do. So I did go to the Acting-School for two years, learned some quite good stuff, also good to know in real life! But I did not work as an actor. Not till today. Maybe I could have, if I really would wanted to, but the Goal and the possible option, to stand in public as an actor one day, has lost it’s attractivity. So I did and do some jobs, to earn money, and in the meantime I do, what maybe my real talent is: I write. A few years ago, I wrote some short stories till one of them lead me to write a novel. I wanted to do that years ago, but I could’nt do it one day earlier, until that day, the time was right and the right idea came up. And not to forget: Until I lived the things I wanted to write about. The novel is ready for quite a year now, but no publisher in sight! I don´t know, how it is in other countries, but here in Germany the publishers not really waiting for a guy like me. Problem is, to find someone, who really wants to read it. So I’m still trying… and waiting for a Sign, which way to go… Well, what I’ve been really trying to say, is, sometimes you listen to your heart, do what you really want to do, but that does’nt mean, that everything will work out fine from now on … sometimes you really have to wait a long time to find out, what’s it all about … I hope, I will find my way. And you’ll find yours!
Oliver
[quote comment="221"]READ THE ZAHIR… IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE
I WANT SOME MORE BOOKS OF PAULO
IS ANYBODY GONE THROUGH “AT THE BANK OF RIVER….[/quote]
I think you mean “By The River of Piedra I Sat and Wept”? If you like the Zahir, you should read that too. :)
Thank you Paulo, for your inspirational writings. I especially liked Manual of the Warrior of Light.
There are many unforgettable characters in our lives. Many stay for a lifetime, like family; while others may stay for only a while, like friends. But we must cherish each mark they make because, we are essentially the sum of the people we met. Each one leaves a mark in our lives, each one touches us differently and teaches us something new. Some may scar, others may heal, but they are all nevertheless an important part of our lives.
But if I must name one, I thank this friend who came into my life in my early adulthood, who has given me alternative perspectives, shown me what is purpose, helped me to rediscover myself. Meeting this friend is one of the most crucial turning point in my life so far. Thank you, my friend.
Dawn
Singapore
I am, as always, moved profoundly by the message you send and the message my heart receives. I have struggled for years with conforming to what everyone expected of me and what I knew in my heart was right. Whenever I have chosen my heart it seems I have been at odds with the world. Whenever I have chosen what is expected I have been at odds with myself. I am a teacher and it seems everyday I am learning something from my students – which would be why I love my job. A few years ago while teaching a 10th grade history class someone asked why do you care so much that we learn history. I replied so that you will know when it is time to make a change, when it is time to take a stand because you are the future – you can make a difference. One student rather smartly asked so if we are supposed to make a difference why dont you? I had never thought of me – what in the world could I do? Who am I to make such change? And then it occurred to me – why not me? I now know God was sitting in my class that day because ever since then I have been looking for my path – my way – and it has led me back to my heart, and ultimately to God. Every step I take has led me somewhere I never knew existed. Then this summer I was walking through the bookstore and I was looking for something from a reading list for a class I was taking and there were your books. I was caught as if in a trap and I fumbled through them and picked one and bought it. After reading about six of your books – I know some angel illuminated your section for me to find. It seems that whenever I listen to my heart – God is there cheering me on. I just read The Fifth Mountain and after reading the forward of the book – I almost cried – I could not imagine my life without your books – and I thank God that you did not go to Los Angeles and continue on the path you were on and that you found the strength to follow your heart – so that you could talk to me!
Thank you for that and thank you for sharing Uncle Jose – he must have been so great to have known! I too had an uncle who was great – and everyone always talked about how he had wasted his life and maybe he had – but when I was a little girl we used to visit all the relatives from both sides of the family and they would always fight over who would go where – like a prince on a horse he would always come and pick me up and take me out to dinner and he would talk to me for hours about his life and traveling and then he would listen to whatever I wanted to talk about – it was the one thing I looked forward to and the greatest thing I miss. He never used his Phd from Stanford, or married he chose rather to live his life the way he wanted.
Keep on writing and inspiring the world … I will continue telling people about who you are and maybe we can bring that readership into the millions! You are a gift to the world and I am so glad you have shared this guft with us!
my unforgettable character was Penny West. she was my primary school teacher and we called her Miss West.
she was amazing. she was quite manly. but in a really cool way. she was just very *strong*. she had that noble way about her.
she respected me. she appreciated my work. i would work for her like no other teacher since. i loved it, revelled in it. for her, i wanted to be the best.
we would get stickers for doing good work. i would read the bible and believed in god. we sang every morning. i always knew exactly what i was doing, and that i could do it well.
Today i was faced with the betrayal of a close friend that i’ve had for 13 years. Through all of the hurt and anger and the just plain unfairness of it all, i tried to remember the wisdom of WOL. When i checked my mail, the blog was there almost as if to lend support. Thank you.
What a lovely story!
I can’t choose between my aunt or my grandmother – their lives are totally different – one independent, unmarried, the other one married and very creative in her householding and handicrafting – but both of them worked with what they loved to do.
I’m going to bed with a big smile! :-)
I find immeasurable joy in reading the words of others. Words take time; each word is a seasoning adding to the depth of the meaning. I encounter your words, and they bring depth to the meaning of my life. For that, I am grateful.
I find immeasurable joy in stories. Stories reflect individuals; each story is a singular experience reflecting the universality of our lives. I read your stories, and they bring me from isolation. For this too, I am grateful.
I find great comfort in knowing that we are all using words and stories to gain strength to walk our paths. For this, I am stronger.
Dearest Paulo,
Thank you for sharing your unforgettable character. How interesting his life must have been. What a remarkable example of a warrior of the light.
I noticed in the latest e-mail from you that there are nearly 100,000 subscribers to Warrior of the Light Online…that is truly amazing and wonderful to hear. I also cannot wait until the online chat with you on October 11th. Thank you for being so involved with your readers and giving us a place to exchange our stories, ideas, hopes and dreams. Thank you for everything.
READ THE ZAHIR… IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE
I WANT SOME MORE BOOKS OF PAULO
IS ANYBODY GONE THROUGH “AT THE BANK OF RIVER….
Hello Paulo
In India it is very rare for a girl to follow her dreams but I am struggling hard to do just that.
My relation with my husband exhausted me emotionally. I decided to follow my heart and do what I felt was right. From a safe, physically comfortable cocoon I threw myself into the wilderness.
And guess what ?I have never been happier before.
Thanks to inspiration from your words. You are a God sent for me. I don’t fear the unknown, I look forward to learning from it.
The adventure called life is just beginning for me.
I was told by my husband, “…it’s just a book, not a bible. He is just a moratl not God.”
My argument was , “God works through his appointed angels and they maybe in far off lands they still manage to inspire us.What other proof do you need?”
God bless you. Your simple stories are so profound.
i totally believe this is magical. Usually unbelievable!
It is quite incredible to read the story of an unforgettable character.Particularly as this past week in my life, I made a decision to believe in my path even if it may be unconventional and questioned and criticised by others…I was born in Singapore but raised in Australia. At the age of 23 I left my job as a Parole Officer to find a way of living that satisfied me and did not leave me wondering about what else is there?. I now play in a band in London called The Cages and have aspirations to travel to foreign countries in the future and teach english or do volunteer work.
There have been times when my faith has really been tested and I have doubts that what I am following, will lead me to nowhere…But lately, I have had these thoughts, that my life may not be like that of my friends, all who work in regular jobs and will go on to be married and settled and own a house etc. But that whatever I have created in my own life, it will be unique and valued nonetheless. So the tale of an unforgettable character has inspired me to believe in my path and remind me that there are many people out there in the world like Uncle Jose who aspire and live lives that are not typical but unique and that it is ultimately worth it.
Angie xxx
Dear Paulo,
Thank you for the gift and inspiration you continue to share with the world. Thank you for continuously inspiring my growth and touching my soul. Thank you for your uncle, for he truly followed his heart, even if it were followed by puzzled looks and disbelief.
Too quickly are we led to follow where others have been before, where we fool ourselves into safety and comfort, addicted to recognition accolades from others.
Truly alive are those who dare, who venture into the unknown of the depths within ourselves.
May we all find the path to our inner treasures, rejoice in the beauty of our soul, and live to our fullest potential, for the world around us to benefit from the happiness and strength we eminate.
With utmost respect and admiration,
Benno
reading:
“As soon as television came to Brazil, he bought a set and put it on the sidewalk so that the whole street could see the programs.
He taught me to love things done with the heart”
tears came to my eyes, thats love!
thanks for touching my soul with your gift.
marie parham
I am deeply touched by the beauty of this amazing story of Your life, Paulo !
And there is hardly anything that might be added, as it celebrates the true way of following own heart….showing the way of heart through the jungles of everyday life – and how beautiful IS the heart !
I admire Your uncle José for the courage, craziness and spirit of his heart to live life like this, to live not like all the rest and may we always pray to be free within ourselves to listen to the passions of our souls no matter what…
Thank You for this wonderful and trully unforgettable character that i am sure will shine with radiance of inspiration to many who read this story!
It is important.
with love,
Dasha
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