Is there any one in your life, that you admired? And idol ..?
Borges has been a constant source of inspiration. It’s through his novels and short stories that I found ideas that subsequently became books.
The Zahir for instance was a term that I found in one of his stories and his definition is what propelled me towards the realms of obsession.
He also guided me throughout my youth. I remember, when I only caressed the dream of becoming a writer, that I took a two day bus trip to Buenos Aires to meet him. I saw him in a café but didn’t have the courage to talk to him. I regret this. Specially from a man that said something that I regard as being one of the fundamental truths in life: “there no other virtue than being brave”.
Pour moi c’est vous, Paulo.
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I also know that feeling ;-)
So far in my life I have only regretted the things I didn´t have courage to do.
But this weak I have felt I “have” to speak my truth no matter what.
God has given me a second chance again !!!!
Gather strenght and courage and do it, let the other persons think that your are a nuthead. Why should you care ??
I think their are envy because you had the courage to do it then ;-)
But I think the most people will react with joy and a warm feeling in their heart that someone took the courage to talk to them ;-)
Or what do you think ???
Love again Jessica
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El alquimista
….Sabe que el oro, ese Proteo, acecha
Bajo cualquier azar, como el destino;
Sabe que esta en el polvo del camino,
En el arco, en el brazo y en la flecha.
en su oscura vision de un ser secreto
Que se oculta en el astro y en el lodo,
Late aquel otro sueno de que todo
Es agua, que vio Tales de Mileto.
Otra vision habria; la de un eterno
Dios cuya ubicua faz es cada cosa….
Y mientras cre tocar enardecido
El oro aquel que matara la Muerte.
Dios, que sabe de alquimia, lo convierte
En polvo, en nadie, en nada y en olvido.
- Borges
One of my favorite lines from Borges:
“He knows that gold, that Proteus, is lurking
in all chance happenings, like destiny….”
If this is true, then we each have the capacity to become alchemists if only we have the keen perception to detect the hidden potential glimmering just beneath the surface of daily reality.
I wonder - when you saw Borges in that restaurant, was it a “chance happening,” or did you go there expecting to find him? And would it have made a difference in your reaction? What do you think might have changed in your life - if anything - had you been bold enough to approach him? And what did you have in your mind that you wanted from him? There must have been something - some specific hope or expectation - that drove you to undertake that two-day journey by bus just to meet him. And the questions you had for him in your mind, were they ever answered - later, or elsewhere by some other source?
Love,
Savita
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Wow. Thank you for sharing a ‘regret’. Didn’t think you had any.
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I Love Borges ! And I was so glad last week I was able to explain the term Zahir to a woman I know ,that because I have read it in your book.Thanksssssssss
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http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=APcNQimiRxM&feature=related
Have a nice evening!!
Love,
Thelma
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Idol…I changed many. Many people have been models for me for short period of times. I have learned everything they could offer. Many of them didn’t know I admired them.
I am allways eager to follow successful paths, ideas, to listen to advises,smart stuff from experienced people.
We still have to keep our own unicity, even though we mix sometimes into a personal receipt or cocktail all good lesons and exemples “idoles” offer.
Myself I had been some kind of idol for some kids while I was a little girl.Now,one of them gave my first name to her unique child. Ask me how do I feel ! :) Veeery good…:)
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..Oh, my ..dear Paul from Austria, it is true then that we- women- have the gift of …eloquence! Life has made me ‘wise’in this respect! So many times I have regretted and wondered and imagined a ..supposed dialog instead of the …empty spaces, that I do not have inhibitions amy more of saying whatever passes from my mind!! It is better to say something and go closer to the other souls, than standing inside our ‘walls’, expecting others to … read our thoughts. Of course I would not mind to be able to communicate ‘without words’. Straight to the .. heart!
What do you think, instead of nocking YOUR door, you both nock my … door here in Cyprus? We will …test my … bravery!!!
Love,
Thelma
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… and nothing since the tenderness of youth ( a while ago ;) has changed for me dear Thelma… if Paulo were to nock at my door… I would most likely be completely lost for words… he knows where I live & he knows he is very welcome anytime… but interestingly, I do not idolize him… I see him rather as a slightly older brother… sharing a common path…
Love, & walk together, Paul
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The Zahir is waiting for me to be read… so is The Valkyries.. (am nearly finishing Veronika decides to die…. sigh I have been taking too long)..
On this subject, I think the opposite, if one wants something really bad enough, bravery does not exist… one go ’single-mindedly’ or ‘madly’ to get it. The fruit from this could be victory or getting burnt real bad. Both are parallels.
Being brave comes from a comfort zone of sorts…
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My dear Paulo Coelho, you made me smile! The fundamental truth that you admired, : “there is no other virtue than being brave”, was not able to … make you ‘brave’ and talk to your ‘idol’!! It is the soft heart and .. tenderness of youth and fear of ‘rejection’ that has kept us so many times… silent!
Love,
Thelma
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