Your Space in my Blog : 19th June of 2009

by Paulo Coelho on June 19, 2009

This space is for you to share your ideas on anything that you consider relevant today.

You can publish here excerpts from your blogs or news and articles in general that you think make a difference to the world today. Try to make a bit of editing on what you post here – try to highlight passages with copy-paste, rather than simply giving links.

Please keep in mind that this blog is currently viewed by 230.000 unique visitors a month, and chances are that many of them are going to read your thoughts.

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{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }

THELMA October 13, 2010 at 12:25 pm

Is again ‘our space’ open in the BLOG????
Wonderful, because I felt we were in a long … MONOLOGUE!!!=Μονόλογος. Α DIALOGUE =Διάλογος is always more .. constructive!
Blessings to all.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx

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Marie-Christine October 13, 2010 at 11:09 am

Watching a photograph of a fast car – I wonder what is the point of having them if you cannot go above a certain speed.? Same with the day to day car – a normal one – if it is restricted to 130kms or whatever why not make it a rule and build cars that don’t go faster than that? They are telling us “Speeding kills people”
It is irresponsible to my mind – Just does not make any sense.
Can you imagine all the money that we can save and can go onto education for our children ,health and so on?
I CARE.
With love

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bly salcedo, Pilipinas June 22, 2010 at 7:29 am

Let us Love since this is what our hearts is made for.

- Sancta Teresita De Lisieux

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Marie-Christine October 10, 2010 at 11:32 pm

Delicioso
xx

bly salcedo, Pilipinas June 22, 2010 at 7:26 am

When you’re hurt, don’t pray that the creator would take away the pain completely. Instead, pray that He/She would carry the burden with you… A great way to spend time with the lord indeed…

Buong Puso at Pagmamahal,

bly

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Alexandra June 21, 2009 at 4:10 pm

Endless Love
by womball

My love for you will never end,
You are my true one and only.
My desire for you will never die,
Because my loving heart will never leave you lonely.

You are the sun in my sky,
And the moon in my night
You are the reason why I smile,
And the love in my life

You are the reason I rise in the morning,
Looking forward to you gorgeous smile.
You are the reason I lie to rest at night,
Because in my dreams everything is OH, so, right.

My love, passion, and devotion for you will never end,
As long as you are in my life
You are the reason I stay around,
You make my life seem so sound.

You helped me forget my past,
Which is something I need to do?
I thank you greatly for that,
Is your love for me true?

You wouldn’t treat me like you do,
If it was true
That’s what I am thinking,
Would you?

I trust you with my loving heart,
And I will forever cherish our memories.
I will never let our love die,
Because what we have is ENDLESS LOVE.

Poetry Links:

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Hicham June 21, 2009 at 3:12 pm

Dear Paulo,

I read on your twitter profile that you wonder about “if you will resist” and all I have to say is [Manual of the Warriors of Light]

Salam,
Hicham

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Savita Vega June 21, 2009 at 2:19 pm

Wishing you all a glorious Summer Solstice! (That is, if you live in the Northern hemisphere – a Winter Solstice, of course, if you live in the South).

Just wanted to share an interesting article on the subject, a good overview of Midsummer celebrations throughout history, as well what the day has meant to various peoples of different cultures:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/summer_solstice.htm

Here, where I live, it is just a day to go to the lake, or to the river – the “first day of Summer.” Few view it as a day that is in any way sacred or particularly significant. In fact, few (other than the old farmers who still rely on the Almanac) even realize it is the Solstice, or know what that is – for most, it is just the first day of Summer, a good day to go and take a plunge in some cool body of water.

It troubles me a little, how out of touch our modern society is with the natural rhythms of the earth. The same sort of thing happens on December 21st: the day that my daughter and I celebrate as the pinnacle of our Midwinter festivities is a day to which most of those around us seem oblivious. For them, the day passes without notice, as they are out at the mall, busy shopping. For them, the only significance of that day is the one announced in the newspaper adds: HURRY! HURRY! ONLY FOUR SHOPPING DAYS LEFT before Christmas!

This week, my cousin and her family are going out of town – to the river. They have a garden. She has told us that we are welcome to come during this week and take whatever the garden produces. The potatoes are ready, but they have already been dug. The watermelons are getting larger, but they won’t be ripe until July. But there are cucumbers and peppers, zucchini and squash. The silken tufts on the corn, too, have turned from green to yellow to brown, signifying that the ears within have reached maturity. I like walking between the rows, the crisp fresh scent that fills the air when the basket I carry is full. And not just the scent, but also the visual beauty of this cornucopia: all manner of vegetables piled up on top of one another – the sharp contrast between the deep green of the bellpeppers and the rich red of the tomatoes. I like when the tips of my fingers turn purple from shelling purple-hull peas. I like that this garden knows that it is the Solstice, perhaps not in words, but on some deeper level. The earth between my toes speaks of Midsummer. The tender tendrils dangling from the beanstalks like so many fingers gripping the invisible, the small furry leaves of the okra unfurling to catch every drop of morning dew – nature’s way of celebrating!

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Alexandra June 21, 2009 at 2:11 pm

Saw a bad notice in tv,again. One lady got a fee because she gave food and water to a dog living on the street… My God!

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Betsy June 22, 2009 at 11:27 am

Funny world we live in. The more we try to make things easier, the more it gets complicated.
Betsy

Clary June 21, 2009 at 1:49 pm

Magical Moments

There are moments in life when the unexpected happens but in a positive way, what you thought lost suddenly is found. The dim light at the end of the tunnel that perhaps would lead you out, a warm smile that would make your tears stop flowing out.

http://clary.wordpress.com/2009/06/01/magical-moments/

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Miguel June 21, 2009 at 6:39 am

Bendita sea la infancia. El momento más bello de la vida, porque es una combinación entre la mayor ignorancia y la infinita sabiduría. Ignorancia porque un niño no discrimina, no complica, no puede estar bravo más de cinco minutos, no oculta lo que siente a los demás, no sabe lo que pasa en el mundo y es feliz, nadie es diferente. Se trata de esa ignorancia. Estas son las cosas en las que los adultos se sienten inteligentes y realizados cuando las hacen, mientras los niños no, porque es un efecto de la madurez. Mientras que la infinita sabiduría en un niño es invisible para quienes se sienten superiores por tener más “experiencia”. Esa sabiduría es santa porque un niño puede amar con sólo ver a los ojos. Siente que el millonario y el pobre son iguales en condiciones diferentes. Tiene afecto por todo lo que lo rodea. Ve la vida en los ciclos que los adultos temen enfrentar. Tiene el valor de enfrentar la vida sin miedo a ser derrotado. Sabe que está hablando directamente con Dios, sólo hablando. Perdona fácilmente y ve la victoria de un juego como el mejor momento de su vida. Siente a sus ángeles detrás de él. Puede hablar sin palabras. Puede tener un mejor amigo habiéndolo conocido un minuto antes. Porque refleja esa sabiduría con el brillo de sus ojos que en algunos adultos está apagado. Porque ve la muerte como un pasaje al cielo. Porque se desahoga llorando a todo pulmón hasta que se lo saca del pecho y algo lo distrae haciendo que deje de llorar libre de las penas que los adultos se guardan por años. Esa santa sabiduría que muchos se sienten superiores por haberla dejado atrás.

¿Por qué algunos niños pierden ese brillo en los ojos? Simple… viven en un mundo donde esos valores valen poco si no te sirven para ganar algo. Además, es un mundo dominado por aquellos que perdieron su brillo. Desde la más tierna infancia, tanto los padres, los maestros, los demonios o cualquier otro ser en el entorno sin que nadie se dé cuenta con el pasar de los años. Entonces se pierde aquella bella visión del mundo y se cambia por una más pesimista y desconfiada con miedo a cumplir los sueños. Y quizás, años después, trata de recuperar lo que le fue arrebatado para volver a sentir esa paz espiritual que todos añoramos, pocos buscan y un puñado encuentran.

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Betsy June 21, 2009 at 2:56 am

I saw someone fly their kite today,

Watching it flutter to and fro brought a smile to my lips,

For a brief momment, it pulled warm and happy childhood memories from the recess of my mind,

For a few seconds I felt like a child again,

Alas, it all has escaped me.

I think I’ll go fly a kite.

Betsy Ickes

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Maryon June 20, 2009 at 9:08 pm

A thought is harmless unless we believe it. It’s not our thoughts, but the attachment to our thoughts, that causes suffering. Attaching to a thought means believing that it’s true, without inquiring. A belief is a thought that we’ve been attaching to, often for years.

Most people think that they are what their thoughts tell them they are. One day I noticed that I wasn’t breathing – I was being breathed. Then I also noticed, to my amazement, that I wasn’t thinking – that I was actually being thought and that thinking isn’t personal. Do you wake up in the morning and say to yourself, I think I won’t think today? It’s too late: you’re already thinking! Thoughts just appear. They come out of nothing and go back to nothing, like clouds moving across the empty sky. They come to pass, not to stay. There is no harm in them until we attach to them as if they were true.

No one has ever been able to control his thinking, although people may tell the story of how they have. I don’t let go of my thoughts – I meet them with understanding. Then they let go of me.

Thoughts are like the breeze or the leaves on the trees or the raindrops falling. They appear like that, and through inquiry we can make friends with them. Would you argue with a raindrop? Raindrops aren’t personal, and neither are thoughts. Once a painful concept is met with understanding, the next time it appears you may find it interesting. What used to be the nightmare is now just interesting.

with love
maryon

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Dorothy June 20, 2009 at 2:45 pm

Unwanted

I was reading a post in Paulo Coelho’s blog one morning, by a man who was trying to help his father win his wife back, when this word popped into my head – “unwanted”.

I began to wonder if that’s indeed how I’ve felt my entire life. Unwanted by my parents, unwanted by my school mates, unwanted by situational “friends” I made throughout my life, unwanted (eventually) by boyfriends and now my husband. Certainly unwanted by members of his family and by most people I meet in my day to day life. Even unwanted by my children, who constantly seem to cry for daddy when thwarted in their actions.

It sounds terribly self-pitying, yet there it is. Is it me that’s projecting this “vibration” and therefore getting what I ask for? The Law of Attraction would definitely sit well with that.

Am I a hypocrite, speaking about one set of values and yet acting on a completely different set? How well do I really know myself? I think I act with integrity, but do I? What are my actions really saying? How can I ever find out? Am I brave enough to find out? I used to be. And I worked hard on changing my behaviours, but was I just trying to please others, to gain their approval? What sort of person do I want to be for myself? Maybe I just need to approve of myself unconditionally – I am who I am and that is enough.

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Anna Marie June 20, 2009 at 11:17 pm

Dear Dorothy,
It is important to practice what you preach. If you do speak on a set of values yet acting completely different, then you will most likely be seen as a hypocrite, or in the least, you will not be looked at with trust or much respect. Your actions must be synchronized with your words and your tongue. Otherwise people will think that you are playing them around and that you don’t look to them with much respect, so they will end of treating you the same.
Wishing you the best Dorothy.
Love
Anna Marie

Alexandra June 21, 2009 at 6:33 am

Sorry dear, at times I feel to have your problem. But if I try to look bit from another point of you, not taking for granted that I am unwanted, I realize that most of things were only creation of my own mind. My fear made me think that way. Is not possible that nobody wants you. Right, your last line says you already know wheres the problem, you just think you are never good enough. But for sure you love others as they are, so others might love you too just the way you are.
This dangerous ideas of unwanted can make our life as hell, and the others. What if they want us, and see we cant believe? They will suffer. My greatest problem appear when I fall in love, and like much somebody. I just try to cut off, for fear…I need a very patient wise man, who can see why I am doing all.Hope to be able to change.The first step is to see the problem.
Wish you to find your self confidence, wish I do that too… Take care, you are not unwanted.Have a nice time,bye bye
Love
Alexandra

Montega June 21, 2009 at 6:13 pm

Hello Dorothy

If you had a wish to grant, what would you wish? Yesterday wandered into Pulchri Art studio at the Lange Voorhout in The Hague. Before we knew it we had spent more than an hour watching and wandering through one single room. In the middle of the room surrounded by video installations and objects was a cut out circle red wall. Shiny red bands were neatly hanging out little holes. i walked up and saw that there were short sentences printed on them, a different one on each lace. They were whishes: i wish i had a new car, i wish Elephants could dance. i wish for good weather always, – it must have been a hundred wishes at least in different languages. Some holes were empty or had rolled up notes stuck in them. Next to the wall was a display explaining this to be a wishing wall. You could write down a wish and roll it up, stick it in a little hole and it would be turned into a printed text on a band coming day. After you had put your wish in the wall you could pull out one of the laces for yourself: the display explained to treat these wishes just like all other ones. To keep quiet about your own but to look as often as you could at the one you got. Now i am breaking a rule here because i somehow doubt that anyone would take on my wish anyway. But i wished to be not i. But i’ll remain silent about the really lovely one i took. Now what would you wish?

For an image of the exposition: http://www.harkestenwolde.nl/

Nancy June 22, 2009 at 1:04 am

Dorothy, If you truly feel unwanted please do not feel that way. It sounds like you are asking the right questions for yourself, and in time things will change. You may be someone who is very caring and you are able to make great changes in peoples life that they feel they can move on without you. You will know what to do, find the BALANCE.

Sheela June 22, 2009 at 4:29 am

Dorothy, I can read the pain in your writing. Do not feel unwanted, I know how hollow and empty that can feel. I am sure there are lots of people who would love be in your company. If you feel unwanted from your husband, you should work it out. Talk to him, open the communication lines and you will see things will improve.
Take care dear Dorothy.

Elaine June 20, 2009 at 6:39 am

Drive forward with enthusiasm even though you are bombarded not only by rapidly changing technologies, but also by man’s resistance to the new – the altered – the different. So much courage is gained by your willingness to share. Always keep searching, both vertically and horizontally, with your heart. The answer is close by. Here is something to ponder: How does being extremely aware of architecture, (made by man, made by God, made by us,) that we encounter along our path, help us become stronger beings?

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Alexandra June 19, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Chandra (India) June 19, 2009 at 4:00 pm

The lock clicked open as he entered his apartment. He opened his door and faced the huge new painting he had recently installed on his wall. The splendor of the ship and the cool blue sea behind it seemed to give some calm to his excited nerves. He nudged the door to close behind him and took off his shoes.

He loosened his tie and fell on his couch. As he bounced on the sponges of the couch, he switched on his music set- Beethoven, his favorite. It was the perfect tune, for the perfect occasion. The view of the evening sunset seen from his balcony was, perfect! Everything was perfect.

He had just been promoted. At 25, it was a new record for the youngest project leader. What more, his parents had found him a suitable match. A beautiful and intellectually sound female who was even better than anyone he would have managed to find himself.

What was he saying, “Better than anyone I could have managed to find myself”?

He pondered over the question for a while. All those memories flooded back to him. The wonderful times he had with the girl he called “Kiddo”. The unexpected meeting in the railway station five years ago, when he had decided their acquaintance had ceased for good; the awkward manner in which he had proposed to her and the wonderful feeling of joy when she accepted him a week later; the hours they spent on the phone, getting to know each other;the twinkle in her eyes when she gave him one of those naughty grins; the days he had to wait for her to recoup from her chicken pox; their first official date; the first kiss, the second and the first time they made love; the way she bit his ears; their first major fight; the second major fight; the fight on his birthday; and then, the manner of their breakup. The memories were bittersweet.

And then he remembered Christie. Christina, the girl he had met just for a couple of hours in his life; the girl who made all the difference to him and turned his life around in those couple of hours; the girl whom he never again met; the girl who’s face he couldn’t even recollect.

He met Christina a week or so before his break up. He got to know her as a friend’s friend. She was five years elder to him, married, with a son and seen a fair share of life as compared to him.

It was a day in which the gods were angry with the city and had poured like crazy. The day had been a reflection of his mood- furious, dark and gloomy. He had had the most imperfect birthday the previous day and it was getting no better. Every quarrel he had was hastening the breakup and he could do nothing to help it. He needed a break. He had to do something to break the monotony of his life. But it was raining cats and dogs and he couldn’t step out of the house.

Thankfully for him, his friend called him out for a drive. He latched on to the idea and so found himself in the car with his friend, heading out to some place he had no clue about. This was when Christie joined them. Through the coffee, she had spoken to him about a lot of pursuits in life other than love. She had brought out the concept of living ones life for his family. She had spoken about how the search for peace could be fulfilled by the simple act of chasing ones passion. She had spoken about positivism, objectivity and a lot more of complex concepts in the simplest of terms.

“Look for happiness through the eyes of those who you love. Look for it in those who realize how much of a difference you made in their life. Treat everyone with the same amount of care that you would show when you see sadness in “your kiddo”. Set your heart free and you will find it influence thousands of hearts around you. Maybe she will come back, but if she doesn’t just make sure you don’t grow old with the feeling that your life so far had been without a purpose.”

These words, he had repeated every morning since the first time he had heard them from Christie………………… That was five years ago.

He took a pen and wrote,

“To Christina, with love………

Today, I can say I have lived my life as best as possible. I repent not for any mistake I had done or for the pain I had put my heart through. For I have grown successful in my career and in my social life. No one can be loved by everyone, but I can surely say that I am loved by most people who know me.

I know not where you stay. I know not how you are doing. I know not whether you remember me. But if you do, I say, “Thank You for turning my life around.”

And if you don’t, I say, “Thank You anyways”.”

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Alexandra June 22, 2009 at 7:21 am

Wonderful Chandra…In some points I see moments in my life there.Love does not respect rules. Thank you for this touching sensitive story…
Much love
Alexandra

Nina June 22, 2009 at 9:17 am

Wow Chandra, consider yourself a lucky man, so many woman in your life, Christina, Kiddo, and the suitable match. Very touching story!
Nina

Breda June 19, 2009 at 2:28 pm

Hi everyone,today is reported as ‘The Happiest day of the Year ‘ due to people being in summer mode-planning holidays /remembering past summers that bring happy memories- and doing more outdoor activities. So spread the joy!! and do random acts of kindness.
I would love to hear about happy memories of childhood summers.
Summers were always sunny in Ireland when I was young!!! I was preparing for my first communion (in summer) my Mum would have poached eggs on toast ready for me at home.The Corpos Cristi parade was held on or around my birthday in June and we enjoyed the excitement of this parade…outdoors in the blazing sun.
I will write more later-must head to town now for awhile.
Love,
Breda

Love,
Breda

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Johanne Mercille June 20, 2009 at 1:48 pm

My happiest memories in summer is when I think of those 3 weeks each summer in Ocean City, New Jersey. Family time full-time. Other fammily members would rent houses near. The ocean, the sand, the boardwalk. Loved the sent of the “goudron”, the wood. So much games (mini putts, games, boutiques). The best memories, seeing my mother relaxed, taking time for her, smiling, and my parents together, and being close to my mother. Also, no anxiety, no fear of loosing my mother, that the family would break. I was on true vacation, since all the other part of the seasons I would tend to be the “savior” on my mother and father who were getting more and more distant from one another. Ocean City, the City for the family they call it … well, that is true. That was the happiest family moments for me.

THELMA June 19, 2009 at 1:55 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBCFF-N2T64
…’ people go to the cinema, so that they will not feel lonely…
But I have you and you have me, two people ‘in love’ are .. many.

Costas Xatzis.
He is coming to Cyprus and is giving a concert at the Ancient Theater of Curium in Limassol, on the 27th of July. He is a Greek, gypsy singer and composer.. Through his songs he has spread the message of LOVE.

Since you wonder dear Paulo Coelho [here in Twitter] if you will resist…, it would be nice if you would come to Cyprus then.. [we are coming back from the holidays on the 18th of July]. We can arrange a reader’s open meeting in Cyprus ;]
LOVE,
Thelma.

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Chandra (India) June 23, 2009 at 12:13 pm

Dear Nina,

The man is the story is not me :)

Just a fictional character

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