I too despair that the world seems to believe in these prescription drugs to sort out problems, when in fact in my experience and research, the opposite is true.
Ritalin (I fume from the ears!!) legalised Cocaine!!
I’ll calm down a bit - my friend read the leaflet in some tablets she had been given; halfway down the list of side effects it said ‘may cause sudden or unexpected death’
??!! she rightly pointed out;
how can it be either sudden or unexpected when it tells me (and the people who produce them) right here!!
anyway, I’ll shut up now
you just happened in on the subject of my personal mission/commission
LOVE

He will have to use his experience to arm himself properly and then, when he decides that he is ready for it, daringly and willingly confront all the horrible phantoms of that endless darkness.

This is the only way to make it to the other side, to open that great and glorious gate of light. Only when he is ready to accept this impossible challenge, he is worthy of calling himself a warrior of the light.

There is nothing romantic about this.

This is the war on the ego, where no prisoners are taken.

Dear Rose,
I think your letter is a wonderfully moving and fitting tribute to Heath Ledger. Undoubtedly, he was and it will always stay an inspiration as a human being. Sadly, sometimes young lives seem to us cut very short, but as you have put it so correctly, it’s God’s will. After my brother died I was comforted through my grief by faith and love we shared. I’ve realised even though his life could have been longer – it was completely fulfilled. Some people live longer, but struggle to find a meaning, and purpose, and reason. But those who are chosen to die young have taught us something valuable. You are absolutely right: we should look at ourselves and if there is anything to be corrected and learned (and there always is something, even a little thing) – we should try and carry on the legacy they all left us with.

Best regards to you and thank you for writing what you did. It certainly touched me, and I am sure many other people.

I have a feeling Mr. Paulo Coelho wanted to bring people together by creating this kind of site. Again, weather or not it is his intention to teach – he remains a great teacher to us all.

This talented actor past away yesterday in NYC, at 28, only a few months older than I am. It affects me because I loved his movies, his performance in Brokeback Mountain was beyond genius. It touched my soul and that of million others. A true classic.

I remembered that about ten years ago I saw this Australian show called ‘Sweat’ where he played a gay athlete; quite a risque character for a youth series. Or for a young unknown actor. I’ve always remembered that I just instinctly thought that that guy was going to make it big. Going Hollywood.

After that show I forgot about him, but some years later watching a movie I recognized him. There he was. That guy. And it seemed natural that he ended up there. Don’t know why. It were not his looks, there are so many ‘pretty boys’, that wasn’t it. Sometimes I just have these ‘premonitions’ about people, I know they’re going to fulfill their dreams, getting ‘famous’ in their own right. And I’ll always remember those people.

I’d remembered Heath. So in 2002 he starred in ‘The Four Feathers’ which took place in the Sudanese desert for the greatest part of the movie.
At one time they had to film a scene in which Heath’s character had to jump on a horse, better said, on one horse amongst a herd of 100, galloping past him. First his stunt double was going to do it, but Heath asked the director if he could do it himself. The director responded that he could be killed doing that. Heath responded with a line also uttered by his character in the movie:”I will be killed if it’s God will.”

Battling pneumonia and insomnia he has passed away. Maybe selfmedication gone wrong? Whatever the reason, I just hope it was God’s will and that his time on earth was done. I know God works in mysterious ways, what do we know of his reasons? I just feel so sad that his little daughter will not really get to know her father in real life.

And I’d wish this society wouldn’t be so easy with prescribing pills. In Heath Ledger’s appartment there were found five bottles of prescribed drugs.
Some pills against anxiety, depression and against sleepless nights. Pills. They seem to be today’s answers to problems of the mind or/ and soul. Or to a sensitive and different than average person. An answer they are not! Just like ever second child today is on Ritalin. Sigh. Angry. Sad.

Mr. Coelho, sorry for rambling on about this, but I always go to your blog to get inspired or when I need a little lifting of spirits. So it just felt like a natural place to vent. And because Heath Ledger seemed to be a true Warrior of the Light. An Australian Santiago in his own right, who left his hometown at sixteen to pursue a movie career in Sydney. Ending up in Hollywood. But still following his own path. A quote of him out of an article I read today:
“In the face of all of Hollywood’s promises and pressures, Ledger seemed to have his eyes on something more ethereal and indefinable. ”I’m on a f—ing journey,” he said. ”I’m on a walkabout. A lot of people think ambition or success, and they think dollars…. My success is getting underneath that. At the f—ing end of the day, that’s the only thing you’re going to carry with you when you die.” (Link:http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20173197,00.html)

For me he’s an inspiration and his passing away woke me up again. And reminded me that I’m not getting enough out of life. And that it’s important to believe in your dream. Sometimes a stranger who becomes your friend will do that to you. Sometimes it’s a famous moviestar who dies far too young. It’s all the same in the end.

I hope Heath has found love and rest on the other side now his journey has ended.

My candle burns at both ends
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends -
It gives a lovely light.

— Edna St. Vincent Millay

Love,

Rose