Changing attitudes

By Paulo Coelho

A university professor practices Tai Chi with enthusiasm, but little by little he becomes more tired and decides to stop.

- I am sorry, but I cannot go on – he tells his master. – After all, I have dedicated so many years to studying philosophy that I ended up forgetting my body.

- It is a pity that you are giving up. Because I too have dedicated much time to studying philosophy, and that was exactly what reminded me of my body.

Welcome to Share with Friends – Free Texts for a Free Internet

14 Responses to “Changing attitudes”


  • We become wise not but studying or learning philosophy but by putting into effect all our knowledge. Through our bodily and psychical senses, we experience life. Pain, tears, emotions,pleasure, memories, sentiments, are all our treasures in our hearts and souls that we … carry with us to the ..other dimensions and also, after we .. die. It is the perishable that will become imperishable, while our ..bodies will return to our Mother Earth. Our bodies are the vehicles that we ..experience life.
    Love,
    Thelma

  • We so easily forget that our minds, bodies, and spirits form an interlocking triad: each node of the three supports the other.

  • Você podia escrever em português também, pra variar :|

  • i don*t know what is tai chi,but i think the philosofy must unite both body and mind.one who wants to learn doesn*t get tired.
    thank u mr.Coehlo for making me want to live and think again.
    God give u long life and power.

  • Dear Paulo Coelho,
    I come from China. I have read the christmas story you write for Chinese readers.The story is beautiful,I feel excited to read it and I will share this story with my students.At last,thank you for your christmas story.
    yours sincerely
    YuZhu,Chen

  • Everyday is an other day ,and we change little by little , howewer may be we don’t realize we’re changing day after day ,and suddenly we may be an other person ,because we become aware of the change!

  • Mens sana in corpore sano – I go swimming now.

  • Dear Alexandra,

    I feel very much the same.

    Just yesterday I ran into an old friend, actually a high-school sweetheart, for the first time in twenty years. Though we once walked the same road – as kids, as teenagers – our lives have indeed taken different paths. He was sharing with me quite candidly, the highs and lows, ups and downs of the past twenty years of his life: how many times he has been arrested…jailed…imprisoned. As though not five minutes had passed since we last talked, he openly confessed, “I am what they call a ‘functional addict.’” Later, I was thinking about what that means – to be an “addict” – and more specifically, what it means to have an “addictive personality.” Me – I’m the opposite. It seems I can’t become addicted to anything. Nothing holds my attention for long, and it is difficult for me to focus on anything for an extended period of time. Always there is the next thing: the next big interest or sudden attraction. I am like one side of a velcro strip – I stick to nothing because the other side seems to be missing, or somehow I just can’t find it. I can’t imagine being “an addict” to anything, because I have no stick-to-it-iveness whatsoever, no cling. I’m like a piece of scotch tape that’s lost its stickiness – I may hold for a moment, and it may seem that I’m going to stick, but then peel right off.

  • a veces los problemas no están donde creemos que están….

  • I can relate to this topic….

    I was feeling down for a long time because I had lost my path and I felt as I was going around in bad circles.
    But then when I felt as low as I possible could, I started going on healing and massage, and then also educated myself in thoose areas (and also medium courses).
    Then I also came closer to nature and my spirit again, something has awaked in me. Now I can´t be without my walks in the forest with my dog, and I´m started to exercise more again.
    In january I´m starting to take classes in karate and I shell also start going to a gym where they have classes in body balance, body core, and body pump.
    I feel much more alive today, even though I now I can´t rush things.
    I have to take one step at a time and be proud of my progress.

    Love Jessica

  • I think all depends on someones personality.I like to change from time to time.I practice almost always some sport,and I remember how boring is when you know exactly what movement would be the next.Maybe not everybody feel like that,but my nature cant stand same things again and again,I like to learn not one sport,not one language,to visit different places .Even with partner is same,I need new things,something that might surprise me.I think there are people that love to have a routine,something sure.Me too,only my limits are different.

  • WOW! Excellent! This is what I call a “God-wink” (not a coincidence). I practice Chi Kung (Qigong) and in the last few weeks have not been as disciplined as I was months ago.

    This ‘changing attitudes’ post helps me to put it all into perspective. Thank you Paulo.

  • Wow, that’s beautiful.

  • We become wise not but studying or learning philosophy but by putting into effect all our knowledge. Through our bodily and psychical senses, we experience life. Pain, tears, emotions,pleasure, memories, sentiments, are all our treasures in our hearts and souls that we … carry with us to the ..other dimensions and also, after we .. die. It is the perishable that will become imperishable, while our ..bodies will return to our Mother Earth. Our bodies are the vehicles that we ..experience life.
    Love,
    Thelma

Leave a Reply