“Surrealism” is to have 20.000 friends in Facebook&Twitter, but your phone doesn’t ring during the weekend.
P.S. I am not talking about me, but about the society as I see it today (BTW I have more than that in T and FB)
“Surrealism” is to have 20.000 friends in Facebook&Twitter, but your phone doesn’t ring during the weekend.
P.S. I am not talking about me, but about the society as I see it today (BTW I have more than that in T and FB)
Be careful. You can hurt with your words, but you can also hurt with your silence.
Styled with arrariv
Entries Feed and Comments Feed
70 queries. 1.9550 seconds.
Unfortinately people prefer to build the relationships through computer more and more.i see less and less “real” friends not “net” friends. I do hope it will change and we will hade distant friends only aster we meet in real life.
Alla
http://www.allasobirova.com
i say that people dont know to comunicate this days, you see is easier to spy in others life insted of looking some one in the face…. sad…
the people are diferend from the other animals cause they kan comunicate…
LOL! What smugness Paulo! Its like “I have more then 20000 beat that!” and “Obviosly MY* phone rings on weekends. Ah I’m so popular” Hehe.
Anyways. Maybe its just a shift in communications. Like people used to first meet face to face always. Emotion could be gauged from their faces, voice, expression, eyes, words, body language, action and ‘presence’ as in aura or something similar.
Then came the telephone. All went down to the voice, tone and words. So many things like eyes, body language, expression and the ‘presence’. It was void of so many things.
Right now this. Digital media. Void of everthing! Only words. Tone has to be mentioned like ‘LOL’ if you’re jesting. ‘Yeah right’ for sarcasm. ‘Whatever’ to condescend. And the emoticons!! [ =) :P :) :( ] No presence nothing! Worst form of communication possible. Yet its convennient and Free!
It certainly has a plethora of advantages like this. Me communicating to you, Paulo and you friends- all the international readers. It certainly would have been next to impossible for me to meet you or even ring you on weekends ;)
Who knows the next form of communication could me some thought machine! Sheer thoughts conveyed to the other. Who knows…
So lets keep the face-to-face communication reserved for everyone we can meet-friends family etc. The telephonic one for faraway people-relatives friends in different city nation. And digital for communications like this.
oh! dis reminds me of drew berrymore’s role in ‘He’s just not that into you’, she too had said the same thing…….
& you know it was wonderful whn @ da end she deletes all those accounts on networking sites after findin her mr. right!
Life indeed has bcome a joke!!! if v look @ technology though itz gud but it kills the fun of being human!!!
May I remind you all dears that before the telephon was the mail?;)
Normal, paper mail.
The difference here is that it is so fast, inmediate, and we expect inmediate answers and so on… And thus people don’t spend much time writing because nothing happened really in their “real” day to day life since the last email/message/sms.
In between, I don’t have 20 000 friends on facebook, not even 100, but they are people I truly care for and know and share with;)
Yet sometimes my phone doesn’t ring during the week end, or just once maybe; it’s ok because I’m not available, I’m doing things, and so are my beloved ones;)
I wonder why sometimes it seems easier to connect with people or even to be open to show our deepest emotions or feelings on a blog than face to face… Are we that unconscious? Or do we really need a screen in front of us to reveal our true colors?
Grettel,
I think it is a lot easier to talk about our real person with people who don’t really know us. There is always the fear of rejection or being judged. So I think you are right.
la gente tiene demasiado miedo, pero el miedo solamente se cura con amor a los demas, yo creo que a veces hay demasiados intereses emocionales que al final no van a ninguna parte, pero nos hacen acturar de manera diferente, la sencillez es la unica garantia de sinceridad,..
I just entered facebook and get a cellphone today. So I could tell you later about. :)
Now there is more than a thousand people already who want to come to Paulo’s march party this quote next to it suddenly changes it’s meaning.
It makes me think of last weekend when i biked down to the photomuseum with my daughter because one of her favorite sesamestreet actors was there to sign the catalogue of the exhibition about the ‘Wonderyears’, – growing up in the 50th – he had been co-designing. They had stood chatting about scarfs and hats and my girl has been leafing through the catalogue ever since, last night i heard her mumble: he’s so nice, and i smiled. Thank god famous people are so nice, make us feel so at ease. It makes us forget how many of us there actually is. It is frightening somehow to think of all these people who all have feelings similar to mine. Or maybe it is only impressive to some of you, but to me it feels threatening in a way, as if it’s decimising me, making me insignificant in a way i had not felt insignificant before. It’s familiarity that does that: just think of how well you know Michael Jacksons family, their names, their history, their succes and their low moments. Look at how well you know people who have no idea you yourself even walk this earth. It is amazing what effect media have on us.
Yesterday i still sort of raised my eyebrows at 20.000 friends and thought nothing much of it. Today i read some thousand dates of birth, peoples favorite music, books and they are not a number anymore, but people with at least 3 things in common: we dream of being invited, we read, and we like music.
Just now i was standing drying the dishes with a cloth that had initals embroidered in the corner in red threat. My great great grandmother Maartjes linnens that have survived not only her but my grandma too, whom i inherited them from. Noone but me on this earth still knows she ever even existed, and now i wonder: isn’t it a little like with these 4 question testimonials?
Of course you all exist!
you all have your life right here and now and since your in the middle of it it is the only life on this earth that really matters to you. Or at least i suppose so, as it is like that for me.
But we all have that same feeling, haven’t we,
And people before us had that too: not only Maartje.
Last year i walked around an old roman monument in the south of France. My legs were torn by the bloody thorny shrub and my knees and shorts were sandy from sliding down the hill and for a little while it felt as if i was the first person in very long to be so close to the Pont du Gard. Until i actually stood on it. And saw how the stones were literally blistered with graffity. People who must have felt rather like me after a long hot walk decided to leave their mark: make sure they themselves and the day they climbed the aquaduct would not be forgotten.
It is a good thing famous people are so kind and open because it hides the fact how many friends they have and how big this world actually is.
(i have 6 friends and 4 family members on facebook and suddenly that feels quite different too.)
Give me your phone, i will call you :-)
big hug,
ROFL: that was excatly what I thought when I read the quote… But Paulo told he was not talking about himself.
Thanks for the laugh Wannapa. ;)
¡Hola! Mi nombre es Silvia Carballo Argumedo tengo 50 años y soy prfesora jubilada, madre de 2 lindas hijas Verónica mi primogénita y Diana; Vero Ingeniero Qimico Industrial egresada del I.P.N. en 2006 con 23 años de edad féliz, triunfadora, muy guapa, enamorada, orgullosa de su familia y podría decir mil cosas que retrataran a mi hija solo se que era muy feliz ella fallecio el 10 de enero pasado en un accidente automovilistico ella viajaba con su novio a Morelia, y escribo para usted porque era su autor favorito, leia sus articulos y de vez en vez nos regalaba en casa algo de lo que para ella significaba leer a su autor favorito. Hace poco tiempo me encontre con un libro Verónica decide morir, y pense si esta no sera una señal… En fin quiero agradecer que mi hija aprendiera tanto leyendo a Paulo Coelho.
Querida Silvia
Lamento mucho lo que sucedio con Vero. Soy de Peru, tengo 19 años y tus lineas llamaron mi atencion.
Tengo una madre que diria exactamente lo mismo de mi, y eso me hace feliz. No necesito conocerte para saber que tu hija era feliz gracias a ti, porque una madre que se interesa por la lectura de su hija es porque quiere conocer su mundo, y eso hace feliz a una hija.
Los libros son muy buenos, a mi tambien me encantan, disfruto cada uno, cada palabra, y algunas veces me detengo unos segundos para tratar de encontrar el fondo de una frase o de alguna situacion que se presenta. Ojala tu tambien puedas disfrutar leyendo Coelho y conociendo un poco mas el mundo de Veronica.
Un abrazo muy fuerte y desde lo mas profundo de mi corazon te deseo lo mejor.
kimberly
Paulo, I already told you, give me a call and we can have a cup of coffee. Don’t worry about your phone ringing then…talk to you later, send my best to your wife and my best to you. RC
So true or not? That is the question! And the answer is different to each of us, as we do have different realities, experiences and expectations.
There are those who just collect faces on facebook/twiter, the more they have the better they feel… as it shows to others and themselves how “popular” they are. If that make them happy so be it.
There are those who use it to get in touch with people they have not seen in a long time – school mates, friends from the past and other places. They are happy to share their pictures and life, even though they hardly talk or communicate. For them it is enough just to pip on their friends profile and c how are they doing. If that make them happy, so be it.
Then there are the ones that use it because everybody else is doing so, therefore after being harassed by everybody around them – because they “are not on facebook/twiter!” – they finally open an account, which will be hardly used. They just answer a few friend request and ignored all the rest.
Some people use it to remember their friends and family birthdays, which makes everybody happy, as even people who you have not seen in years, did take a minute to write you a Happy Birthday post.
There are others who like to post on their status an inspirational note every morning – a way to share with anyone who is ready to received and get inspired. They just do it for the simple pleasure of sharing something, with no expectations. To their surprise later on they discovered that many of his/her friends are actually looking forward to start their day by reading the note he/she is religiously posting. Even if he/she has inspired 1 friend out of the 20,000, he/she knows it was worthy.
And there are those who like to pick the phone and call their friends.
At the end is all a matter of choice and expectations.
What a wonderful life!
LoveNlight
Gabi
…and there are those who got so addicted that all they do during their days is fb/t.
but as u said it is all a matter of *choice* and expectation :)
Lea
Beautifully written and accurate. One section are the ones absolutely addicted to the games on them.
Hi everybody.
As we talk about on line friends, I have to be honest, and tell the good part too. Appart the people here on blog, that they all so kind and bright, and first of all you dear Paulo, that even if you dont make my phone ring you give me so much joy, I also encountered nice people while chatting. They not the majority, indeed, but they were helping me with information, or other. Even I got calls from abroad while I was ill in bad with terrible back pains, could not move, a nice friend, called me to see how I am, he is living in Italy and each time I need, no matter if I was not talking to him from months, he kindly help me with computer advice, not even my family helped me on that. I have brothers that when I needed urgent help with computer( for example to write me thesis) they told they too busy…And that far away boy( he is really young) from Italy was always there to help me without asking anything in return. More, he said I dont even have to say thanks…
Even for new years eve I got phone call from him. It was a kind gesture.
So among bad things, one can find really good things in on line friendship, certainly only finding the right people.
Love you all
Alexandra
never forget that the darkest moment comes just before the first rays of sun… announcing the dawn of a new day… you deserve so much light dear Alexandra… and that’s my wish for for you today… may your beautiful story give you the strength to always believe…
Love, Paul
Hi dear Paul, so sweet of you. You really very kind. Wish you too all and only wonderful things.
Love
Alexandra
Until now I have only found love and light in the Internet. Even if the dark exists I prefer to be optimistic and see everything with the eyes of a child.. and try to .. learn. Even whenever I ‘read’ or ’see’ something that I do not agree or do not like I just try to ‘understand’.
I have watched your video Alexandra, but the sound was very low. With my English I prefer to see the … written Logos! Thank you.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Ok, dearest Thelma, you right, I was whispering for was early morning, walls paper thin…I will add written comment from now on, I think. Its ok.
Love
Alexandra
Just wondering if you ever chatted with/to an audience of 20,000 [in person]?!! ;O)
It is surrealism, but it is not the only surrealistic fact.
It is true internet makes the distances a zero, allowing people from all over the world to communicate, but at the same time we all are more far from real human touch.
This quote makes me wonder if we can call someone friend if we met him in the internet, is he for real?
Friendship as all relationships doesn’t need as well human contact?
Friendship in internet is something that can be done or are we a little too eager to call a person friend allthough it seems that we are connected mentally?
Lonelyness is a great factor definately, but in life too people they don’t communicate as they used too for example, they don’t flirt so intesively as they did in the past.
So i think the problem is not internet use but the allienation and lonelyness that rule in modern life, resulting in superficial and lucking from emotions contacts.
The phone doesn’t ring because the friends in internet they are not present in our life and life needs friends, people that you can talk, share, laugh, fight and go out and mostly to phone you.
Καλημέρα Μαρία,
Πρόλαβα να διαβάσω το κείμενο σου την προηγούμενη εβδομάδα και σου παραθέτω παρακάτω το κομμάτι σου, που θα ήθελα και να σχολιάσω:
———————————————————–
“Για μένα αδυναμία είναι π.χ. να “ανοίγεις” μια πτυχή σου και ο άλλος να την χρησιμοποιεί εναντίον σου. Ποιος φταίει? Φυσικά εγώ που το επέτρεψα να συμβεί, γιατί είναι μαθηματικά βέβαιο πως όποιος έχει κάποια δύναμη, όποια και αν είναι αυτή, θα τη χρησιμοποιήσει, το πως είναι συνάρτηση πολλών παραγόντων.
Ο Καζαντζάκης έλεγε (συγνώμη που δεν θυμάμαι τα ακριβή λόγια πέρασαν πολλά χρόνια αλλά συνοπτικά είναι τα εξής) “πως αν δεν αγαπήσεις και δεν πληγωθείς δεν ζείς είσαι νεκρός και δεν το ξέρεις, γιατί ακόμα και όταν πονάς και όταν πληγώνεσαι σημαίνει πως είσαι ζωντανός”.
Εγώ έχω να προσθέσω τα εξής ζωή που σε πονάει και πληγώνεσαι δεν είναι ζωή είναι μικρός θάνατος και δεν είμαι και τόσο σίγουρη αν αξίζει και το κόπο δηλαδή.”
———————————————————–
Ήθελα, λοιπόν, να πω πως και φυσικά εσύ ΔΕΝ φταις και δεν είμαι και σίγουρος εάν μπορώ να πω πως φταίει και ο άλλος. Όπως γράφεις και στο κείμενο σου για το quote of the week, είμαστε φτιαγμένοι, για να συζητάμε με φίλους, να γελάμε, να διαφωνούμε και, πιθανόν, πάνω – κάτω, να γράψαμε περίπου τα ίδια, πάνω στο θέμα, με διαφορετικά λόγια.
Επομένως, είναι μέσα στη φύση μας και το να μοιραζόμαστε κάποια προσωπικά μας θέματα με άλλα πρόσωπα. Το πώς θα τα “εκμεταλλευτεί” ο άλλος, αυτό είναι άλλο θέμα. Δεν γίνεται, όμως, να καθόμαστε άπραγοι. Δεν μας συμφέρει βασικά. Και, προσωπικά, διαφωνώ πως είναι αδυναμία. Γιατί να το πούμε έτσι; Δεν υπάρχει άνθρωπος που να μην έχει ζήσει στιγμές, όπου να λαχτάρησε ένα χέρι βοήθειας κι ας υπάρχουν κάποιοι φανφαρολόγοι που να ισχυρίζονται κάτι τέτοιο. Μπούρδες!! Δεν το έκαναν ποτέ. Και αυτοί που το κατάφεραν, αφενός μπορεί να έχει χρειαστεί να πληρώσουν πολύ μεγάλο και πιθανόν δυσανάλογο τίμημα, αφετέρου δε, παραμένουν η εξαίρεση που επιβεβαιώνει τον κανόνα.
Κρύβουμε τόση δύναμη μέσα μας, που εάν την αντιλαμβανόμασταν, ποτέ πια δεν θα μας ενδιέφερε να μιλήσουμε για αυτήν. Θα την αναγνωρίζαμε και στους άλλους και νομίζω πως θα (συμ)πορευόμασταν με αυτούς πιο ανθρώπινα.
Τώρα για το ρητό του Καζαντζάκη. Δεν το έχω ακούσει, αλλά δεν είμαι υποστηρικτής και τόσο των ρητών. Καλά είναι τα ρητά…αλλά μέχρι ένα σημείο. Αυτό που μπορώ να γράψω πάνω σε αυτό είναι το “ζήσε όπως το αισθάνεσαι ΕΣΥ”! Μην κάνεις πράγματα, επειδή τα κάνουν και οι άλλοι. Εκφράσεις του στυλ…”όρμα στη ζωή” ή “ζήσε την κάθε στιγμή” είναι γελοίες και ΠΑΡΑ ΠΟΛΥ παραπλανητικές. Συνήθως μας γεμίζουν ενοχές και άδικα, κατά την άποψή μου. Έχουμε και την τηλεόραση, όπου γεμίσαμε με εκπομπές, όπου συμβαίνουν πράγματα που ουδεμία σχέση έχουν με την πραγματική ζωή. ΕΜΕΙΣ ΕΙΜΑΣΤΕ Η ΠΡΑΓΜΑΤΙΚΗ ΖΩΗ. Όχι, οι ανόητες σαπουνόπερες, με τους πανίβλακες πλούσιους και τα ξενέρωτα σενάρια.
Φυσικά, όπως και σε όλα τα μηνύματα μου, δεν σου κάνω μάθημα, ούτε υπονοώ κάτι για τον τρόπο που ζει ο καθένας. Απλά αρπάζω την ευκαιρία και “θάβω”, μερικά άθλια σκουπίδια που μας σερβίρουν και προσπαθούν να μας πείσουν πως έτσι είναι τα πράγματα.
Κλείνοντας, θα προσθέσω πως η ζωή έχει και θα έχει και χαρές και λύπες. Σαν δύο λεκάνες, η μία με ζεστό (ας το ονομάσουμε χαρά) και η άλλη με κρύο νερό (ας το ονομάσουμε λύπη). Αν έχεις τα χέρια σου, συνεχώς μέσα στην λεκάνη με το ζεστό νερό, όχι μόνο θα το συνηθίσεις, αλλά από ένα σημείο και μετά, θα χρειάζεσαι κι άλλο ζεστό νερό (για να νιώσεις χαρά)…και μετά κι άλλο…και στο τέλος θα καείς. Οι εναλλαγές είναι που μας κάνουν να αντιλαμβανόμαστε και ακόμα και να καθορίζουμε τι είναι καλό και τι κακό την δεδομένη χρονική στιγμή.
Θερμές αγκαλιές και να είσαι καλά! Ελπίζω να τα πούμε σύντομα…
Χαίρομαι που τα κατάφερες Γιάννη να διαβάσεις την απάντηση μου γιατί δεν ήμουν και τόσο σίγουρη λόγω της ημέρας που το έγραψα.
Να διευκρινήσω πρώτα κάτι, δεν είναι ρητό του Καζαντζάκη είναι κάτι που έγραψε σε ένα βιβλίο του νομίζω το “Καπετάν Μιχάλης” έχουν περάσει πολλά χρόνια από τότε που διάβαζα Καζαντζάκη, είναι κατά γνώμη μου κυρίως αντρικός συγγραφέας, λανθασμένα έγραψα είπε αντί για έγραψε.
Ούτε και εγώ είμαι και πολύ φαν του Καζαντζάκη και των ρητών.
Δυστυχώς για μένα σε αυτά που γράφεις για τις λεκάνες …. έχεις δίκιο.
Μάλλον έχω ξεχάσει ότι η ζωή έχει δύο όψεις και καλή και κακή γιατί έχω μείνει στη μία.
Γιάννη να σου εξηγήσω κάτι και μην το πάρεις σε παρακαλώ ως προσωπικό θέμα αλλά για να διευκρινήσω τα πράγματα γιατί δεν ήμουν πάντα τόσο “στραβόξυλο” (δική μου έκφραση οχι δική σου) πάντα ήμουν κλειστή σαν χαρακτήρας τα κρατούσα όλα μέσα μου και κάποια στιγμή στη ζωή μου για τους Χ λόγους αφέθηκα και ανοίχτηκα και είδα πόσο ωραία να μοιράζεσαι και να ξέρεις ότι δεν είναι ούτε κακό, ούτε καταστροφικό να λες και δυό πράγματα.
Για ένα διάστημα ήταν πολύ ωραία και είχα καταφέρει εκείνη τη περιβόητη αρμονία μεταξύ σώματος και ψυχής.
Και όταν έχουμε αρμονία ούτε το σώμα, ούτε η ψυχή πονά αυτό μπορώ να σου το διαβεβαιώσω.
Κάτι έγινε όμως και όλα όσα μοιράστηκα ο Χ άνθρωπος τα έστρεψε όλα εναντίον μου για άλλους λόγους βέβαια, αλλά το έκανε εν πάσει περιπτώσει.
Δεν ξέρω τι ήταν χειρότερο το ότι τα χρησιμοποίησε εναντίον μου ή ότι απότομα έχασα τον άνθρωπο που μπορούσα να τα μοιράζομαι όλα αυτά και ένιωθα εκτός από απίστευτη λύπη για τη τροπή των γεγονότων και ένα κενό που δεν μπορούσα να αναπληρώσω και φοβερό θυμό με τον εαυτό μου γιατί επέτρεψα με τον ένα και τον άλλο τρόπο να ανοιχτώ και επομένως να γίνει ευάλωτη.
Όσο για το να φταίω ή όχι ένα θα σου πω εκείνος είπε ότι φταίω εγώ και πάντα αναλάμβανα τις ευθύνες μου, το δέχομαι μαζί με τις συνέπειες.
Έχεις ιδέα πόσο δύσκολο είναι για κάποιον που δεν ανοίγεται ποτέ να ανοιχθεί και μετά να συντριβεί?
Μετά η συνέχεια είναι κάπως αναμενόμενη επέστρεψα στις αρχικές μου συνήθειες αν και όχι πάντα γιατί ήθελα αλλά γιατί δεν ξέρω άλλο τρόπο και γιατί τώρα πια δεν υπάρχει αυτός ο άνθρωπος για να μοιραστώ αφενός και αφετέρου γιατί όσο και αν φαίνεται παράλογο, μη ρεαλιστικό δεν θέλω να νιώσω ξανά τόσο πόνο, έχω αρκετό φτάνει. Και μετά ήρθε η κατιούσα.
Έχεις δίκιο το ξέρω δεν το λες μόνο εσύ και άλλοι μου λένε τα ίδια πράγματα αλλά……. δεν ξέρω πια που είναι η λεκάνη με το ζεστό νερό.
Ετοιμάζομαι να κάνω κάτι που είναι πολύ δύσκολο, που είναι όνειρο ζωής για μένα (αν θέλεις μπορώ να σου πω)βαρετό για τους περισσότερους και πολύ ψυχοφθόρο, δεν ξέρω ίσως είμαι επηρρεασμένη από τη κατάσταση αλλά ίσως πρέπει να ξεχάσω τη μία λεκάνη, είσαι σίγουρος ότι οι δύο λεκάνες είναι για όλους τους ανθρώπους?
Κάτι έγινε το Σαββατοκύριακο για αυτό γράφω όλα αυτά.
Συγνώμη για τη πολυλογία.
Να περνάς καλά.
Φιλιά
Μαρία, καταρχάς λυπάμαι για την τόση άσχημη εμπειρία στη ζωή σου. Όσο κι αν πιστεύω πως οι δύσκολες εμπειρίες μάς βοηθούν αργότερα να μάθουμε πολλά και σημαντικά πράγματα, παρόλα αυτά είναι πολύ δυσάρεστες την στιγμή εκείνη που μας συμβαίνουν και, πολλές φορές, και αρκετό καιρό μετά.
Σε μία φάση στη ζωή μου, είχα πονέσει πολύ, γιατί με είχαν πατήσει εκεί που πονούσα, γιατί ήξερα πως γνώριζαν που ακριβώς πονάω και γιατί επανειλημμένα με ξαναπάτησαν στο ίδιο σημείο που με πονούσε και για αρκετό χρονικό διάστημα.
Πιστεύω πως κανείς δεν μπορεί να καταλάβει αυτό που ένιωσα, γιατί κάθε εμπειρία είναι μοναδική για τον καθένα και την αντιλαμβανόμαστε ο καθένας με τον δικό μου τρόπο. Οπότε, πιστεύω πως κι εγώ κι επίσης κανείς δεν θα μπορέσει να καταλάβει τι ήταν αυτό που ένιωσες εκείνο το διάστημα. Μόνο εσύ μπορείς να καταλάβεις και να συνειδητοποιήσεις τι πραγματικά συνέβη μέσα σου και να το επιλύσεις.
Δυστυχώς, δεν μπορώ να συνεχίσω την απάντησή μου σε blog, σε όποιον κι αν ανήκει. Σου προτείνω μια διεύθυνση που δεν χρησιμοποιώ (bbggy6@yahoo.gr) και εάν το αποφασίσεις να μου στείλεις εκεί μέηλ, θα σου δώσω την κανονική μου διεύθυνση, ώστε να συνεχίσουμε να τα λέμε από εκεί. Δεν γνωρίζω αν θα ειπωθούν πολύ προσωπικά πράγματα, αλλά όπως ξεκίνησα την απάντηση μου, αισθάνθηκα έντονα να μην την αποτελειώσω. Δεν θέλω να σε αναγκάσω να μου εμπιστευτείς κάποια σου διεύθυνση, απλά νιώθω πως είναι σωστό να πράξω αυτήν την στιγμή έτσι.
Μόνο στην τελευταία σου ερώτηση μπορώ να απαντήσω και πιστεύω πως ΝΑΙ, υπάρχουν και οι δύο λεκάνες για όλους τους ανθρώπους. Ο λόγος που με βρίσκεις τόσο βέβαιο είναι γιατί είναι σαν να με ρωτάς εάν υπάρχει μόνο διάβολος (=κακό) και καθόλου Θεός (=καλό).
Αν θες βέβαια, θα προσπαθήσω να σου απαντήσω στο blog και πιθανόν μια άλλη δεδομένη χρονική στιγμή να είναι πιο εύκολο να σου γράψω.
Σου εύχομαι κάθε καλό…
ΥΓ: αν τελικά μου στείλεις μέηλ στην παραπάνω διεύθυνση, στείλε μου ένα μήνυμα κι εδώ, για να θυμηθώ να ελέγξω την διεύθυνση εκείνη, γιατί όπως κατάλαβες, την έχω εντελώς παραμελημένη…
About hurting the other where he hurts.. I read this yeasterday, sonnet 94 of Shakespeare and it is for you..
XCIV.
They that have power to hurt and will do none,
That do not do the thing they most do show,
Who, moving others, are themselves as stone,
Unmoved, cold, and to temptation slow,
They rightly do inherit heaven’s graces
And husband nature’s riches from expense;
They are the lords and owners of their faces,
Others but stewards of their excellence.
The summer’s flower is to the summer sweet,
Though to itself it only live and die,
But if that flower with base infection meet,
The basest weed outbraves his dignity:
For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds;
Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.
Love and Graditude
Annie
Dearest and Sweet Annie,
That was exquisite, so suitable and simple. i read it again and again. Would you mind telling me from which this is because it is kind of familiar to me.
Have a nice weekend.
Thank you very much for your gesture.
With Love
Maria-dove
Dearest and Sweet Annie,
thank you so much this is exquisite, simple and suited.
I read it again and again.
With love
Maria-dove
Γεια σου Γιάννη,
σε ευχαριστώ για την δυνατότητα που δίνεις, πρέπει να σιου πω ότι τη χρησιμοποίησα, οπότε εαν ανοίξεις το λογαριασμό θα δεις καποιο μήνυμα.
Περιμένω για την υπόλοιπη απάντηση.
Καλό Σαββατοκύριακο
Φιλιά
It is the 94th of the Shakespeare SOnnets.. they are 154 poems..
Here you can find all of them..
http://poetry.eserver.org/sonnets/
or here..
http://www.shakespeares-sonnets.com/sonn02.htm
You are very very welcome <3
Love and Graditude
Annie
soy la nueva Twitter-er pero no se como usarle???
Puede ayudarme por favor? Cual es el procedimiento por favor?
Muchas Gracias !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=825Ekk1u3mQ&feature=fvw
RAINDROPS, Chopin, Prelude.
For Swannie who likes .. raindrops and all of You, for a goodnight [for us]. The most famous Raindrops of the World.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLr1oWjIC44
Autumn …just like Annie I love these months…
So here are lots of leaves for you…
As a child I just loved kicking them around… up in the air round and round …
Be well
Satora
Beautiful music and video..
Ευχαριστώ. Φιλάκια.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Thank you dearest Thelma,
another autumn picture for you and everyone in the blog…
your favorite “Magus” with leaves….
http://twitpic.com/ohrov
Filakia,
Satora
Dear Thelma
Sorry for bothering! Will you please tell me how to upload a photo for my comments?
It will be very much appreciated.
Love
Jose
Dear Jose, it will be a happiness to ’see’ you..
Go to http://www.gravatar.com and .. follow the instructions!
Paul from Austria has informed us about it a long time ago. Thank you dearest Paul. I am a good .. student!!
I think, dearest Paulo Coelho, if there were the ‘instructions’ added, somewhere in the corner of the Blog, then many from the .. ‘Warriors of Light’ would … appear in .. ‘photos’.
Dear Thelma,
Whenever I see someone asking about this, I try to give him explanations. But I’ll talk with Paulo if we can place this in the blog, somewhere.
Love,
Suphi
Dear Paulo Coelho and Supi, thank you for … listening!
Have a nice day.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Dear Thelma !
Thank you very much for your kind reply.
May God always be with you.
Blessings
Jose.
Hi Jose!! Nice to see you. God bless you.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
thank you so much dear Thelma, the pictures the music everything fitted. My favorite season.
I even saw an angel..:)
Love
Dear Marie-Christine, thank you.
I think we should chose …. Spring to … fit with our Hearts and not Autumn with our … bodies1!!! In there, there is always Spring time! You are the .. angel. I love you. Take care.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Oh Mamma You knew I love this piece!
did you also know that he died on 5th November that you sent this?? <3
Great pianist, great performance..I feel the raindrops ..washing away any blackness…
(if you have the sheet, could you play it some time:D!! ?)
Love you <3
Love and Graditude
SwAnniea
…nada mudou, acredito que seja esta a eterna busca no outro das nossas carências, os veiculos são mais modernos, mas as necessidades as mesmas. O encontro do eu verdadeiro, do amigo,sempre acontecerá, mudam as fórmulas, permanecem os resultados com roupas novas.Bjs.
Hello Paulo…..This quote has been going round in my head a lot since I wrote my first comment…I think it is indicative of the state of our society and to a certain degree it worries me. It is different for you as you are a famous author but I dont understand why say someone like me would want thousands of friends on one of these sites as really it is then just a numbers game, it is not genuine and as I see it…once you shut down your computer no one is going to call you as very few really care. Different people have different reasons for using social networking sites but i think those who are there looking for real friends will be left waiting….I think they can make a lonely person feel lonelier and then in more danger of being manipulated. I am not ashamed or bothered to tell you here that at one time in my life I was very lonely and I met who I thought were these really special people. We got on really well.They were two friends who had grown up together in childrens homes…A man and a woman. They had done well for themselves….and were working in the music industry….they offered me a job as voice coach…I was thrilled and excited about this….But I had been scammed…..In fact there was only one person all the time….and there wasnt a job….This unfolded because they said they wanted to meet me in Paris and we could spend three weeks there and would need to meet bands etc. At the time there was no way I could afford to do this and I told them straight out. Thats when i got the wake up call. Everything suddenly changed course. I realised the scam and cut off all contact. I have learnt from this and have become more aware. It is a surreal world on these sites but it is also a challenge and I have also met some fantastic people.
Paulo I apologise for my first comment I wrote it before you put in your PS…lol………with love to you…xxx
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
Leo Buscaglia
Have a nice day.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Beautiful, Thelma. Thanks. I believe in it. Small things (if we can call it that way) we do, matter… and by chance will become big.
Be well. I love this quote.
Liina
If it is still raining there, I am sending you a big smile and a hug to ‘turn this around’ and sprinkle you with some rays of Love :D
Love and Graditude
Swannie <3
Your smile, dearest Swannie has … turned the .. weather.. Today it is warm and sunny .. We went to Larnaca and had lunch at a taverna near the sea.. After the rain the trees and fields are .. shining in the sun.. Wonderful. So I am sending you some sun and a .. big hug and kisses.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Oh, I love the smell of the trees and the wet grass after the rain.. and the sound of the raindrops that have landed on the flowers and are falling one by one down to earth.. aside from the fact that Fall is ‘orange-y’ with the fallen leaves, I love Fall because of this…of this sound that the raindrops on the leaves make when falling down.. crazy ha?
Love you
Love and Graditude
Swannie
Yo puedo compartir un poquito de todo eso con ustedes, queridas amigas, de ese paisaje maravilloso .. Yo les mando, un poquito de mar en calma, un tibio sol y mucho amor ..
Las quiero .. Clarisa
I can share a little bit one of all that with you, darlings friends, of that marvelous landscape.. I them command, a little bit one of sea in calm, a tepid sun and a lot of love.. I want them.. Clarisa
Thank you dearest Clarisa, for joining us .. Nature is our .. Mother.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Dearest Thelma,
Thank you for Leo’s quote.Really did a lot for me-I keep wondering if words are enough? But on this blog, words laced with heartfelt love, I guess are what we can live on even as we get by(I do-wish I could do more than get by!!!)in a real world.
Love you for this very apt and uplifting post,
Love and hugs,
sheelu.
You can FLY my dearest Sheelu! not just get by!!!
Dearest Sheelu, Leo Buscaclia’s books were a big inspiration to me and I think my .. temperament matches his own…: I love hugs, sweet words, caresses, tenderness, showing affection, looking into other’s eyes, smelling flowers and …. perfumes [;-], the smell of the rain, the smell of a … baby, touching, tasting … chocolates.. Our senses are the connection to the material world. This is how we experience it, together with our .. super senses we are ONE with our beloved ones. We transcend our … loneliness.
Love you for loving life.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
hello Thelma,
i am new to this blog and i always read your comments.i don’t know what you do but definitely you are very good observer of human behavior.i am 19yr old doing my b.tech in computer science.like others i too have an account in a social network site.my friend list is not in thousands but in hundreds.and i end up with no calls at the end of the day.i guess the world is becoming materialistic day by day.we all complain for the same but never give a try to solve it.its true that we hardly get calls but then how many times do we take the pain to call our friends.
with love,
naveli
Dear Naveli, thank you for reading my comments – after all dearest Paulo Coelho it seems that my … presence here is .. continuous – If you want me to .. reduce it just tell me! ;-]
So, Naveli, you are just 19 years old.. I am ..61 years old: a wife, a mother and a grand mother! I live in Cyprus and I love God, the Sun, flowers, chocolates, music, reading, dreaming, hugs and kisses and I am ‘in love’ with life and LOVE. All these have made me, since I was a baby, to be open to … other Souls.
Regarding phone calls.. when we feel like communicating with a friend just call them to … say I LOVE YOU! Do not do it only when you want to … ask something from others!! Just show your feelings.. Love will be returned to you seven times .. bigger! This is magic! And never forget to .. smile .. It gives Light to a face and brightens others.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
hi Thelma,
thanks for ur helpful words.its so nice of u that u reply everyone.
u stay in Cyprus and if i am not wrong its an island in europe a mountainous one right?tell me more about Cyprus.i love traveling and discovering new places and knowing about their culture.i belong to India hope u have heard of ti.and i too love flowers,chocolates,music, hugs and kisses.do u know i am the only one who always give hugs and kisses to my roommates(i stay in a hostel).by the way is it ok if call u by just ur name?
my name means ‘new’.its a hindi word and it is used as an adjective for new things.what does ur name signify?
and the first thing u can notice on my face is my smile.
with love,
Naveli
Touch me, hear me, see me. These are the words I heard from my children from the second they were born.
I just met a young boy on the train, he asked if his music was bothering me, and when he got off he made a point of saying goodbye, and on the platform I saw him throw himself into an embrace with one of his friends. He was beautiful, touching and being touched. So I satrt my day with a smile and now it is broader thanks to you Thelma! In honour I will double my quota of random smiles and greetings to people I don’t know.
With love, Daniel
Tommy, wonderful opera rock
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Who%27s_Tommy
Good morning, dearest Paulo Coelho.
Thank you for ‘Tommy’. I have never heard of it.. {Always learning] although the songs must have been heard. I will search for them.. Thank you for enriching our world. God bless you.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Dearest Paulo,
now you are taking me way way back…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7AHblQ3_oM
With loving kindness,
Satora
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbXTnoP5lkw&feature=related
I AM FREE!!!
Let’s FLY.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Dear Daniel, our skins are made for … caresses..
Your sons are very lucky to have you as a father..
I am sending you a big hug and smile.
Take care. I love you.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Thank you Thelma, and I love you too. And the hug and smile are returned wholeheartedly!
With love, Daniel
Te amo Thelma
Σέ Αγαπώ, Ρόζα! Se agapo, Rosa!
Te amo Rosa!
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Dear Heart, BFF, I think that both our opinions go to the … extremes. Every situation is different. But .. not only friendships but … bothers’ relationships and marriages, were ruined because of .. money, loan’s guarantees etc. Being a lawyer’s wife I can tell you a lot of real stories.. So better … keep the rules from the .. start!
Regarding ‘presents’… ‘The winner stands alone’ is full of paradigms. How many expensive gifts are given, just in order to … put someone on a … BED?? !! How many pretend that they are friends just in order to ’steal’ some of the .. glamour and riches of other people. Paulo must have a lot of stories to tell..
As for us, simple people, using our intuition and reading the signs we … know how to .. accept and, of course, return the presents and affection of our loved ones! My Grandfather was saying: The fool was seeing at the present and was happy, But the wise was .. thinking: How to return.
As for friendship and pure love we are here to .. love and be loved. Each offers his .. soul’s flowers.. freely.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
And I love you very much.I think you are the wisest soul I’ve never met.Really.
Dearest Candie, I love you very much too.
I am not wise, I just forget my .. ego and dive into myself every time I have to say or write something. I am just answering to.. how I would like to be treated by others.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Yes, every situation is different indeed. You are right to refer to Paulo’s critic, and at the same time praise, of the favor bank. I was lucky, I could borrow money from the state to get the education I wanted, and have borrowed money from a solid bank to pay for the house I live in. Two ways of getting money, much less messy than if I had to beg on my knees from families or friends. I must say this though, I’d rather ask a friend for help, than having to use a loan shark. Many people do not have a state or a good bank where they will get loans, and HAVE to try from a friend. Recently I heard of an American student, who wrote a letter to tons of wealthy acquaintances, and he received $5000 in scholarship from them. They get to write off these gifts on their taxes anyway. So, give and take for both parties.
Now, back to the week end phones from face book “friends”..hehe.
Love and admiration BFF,
Heart
xxx
I’ve always been sort of a stickler for precision of language…that being said, I think 20,000 “friends” is an impossibility unless we devalue the word so much that a “friend” is more or less anyone at all…and that IS surreal.
I thought a friend was someone you trust, someone you can count on, someone you can be there for, someone you bond with, someone you know well enough to set them apart from the rest of the world and appreciate them for the special soul they are. How can a friendship be maintained with 20,000 people unless it is relatively shallow, not time intensive, not deep or meaningful, and not needing of one’s best self?
I’m sad to see “friend” re-defined to such a vapid term. Do young people, for whom this way of connecting is daily life even know how to find, make, and BE a real friend in the original sense of the word? For their sake, I hope so…because the need for friends is not so surreal as what we’re calling “friends” these days…it’s just the good old fashioned need to find humanity in another kindred spirit. Is that best achieved on the internet? Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmm….
Ah, the youth of today, what is the world coming to? ;) We do the best we can with what we have. Of course if would be lovely to talk over coffee and share these thoughts face to face with all the people here. I’m in Geelong, Australia. Anyone up for a few beers and a good chin wag about anything at all? Drop me a line, I’ll buy the first round, and maybe we’ll become friends!
I have 32 contacts on Facebook, but only 4 friends.
P.S. talking of social networks, I wonder when we will have the first WOL wedding?
;-D
LOL!!! @ Dan
WOL weddings are happeneing every day, if You do not frame and define WOL with this blog. People who try to act out of love exsist even beyond this blog, thankfully.
Oh but I DID frame it within this blog Liina, to make it all the more intriguing! ;)
Daniel,You made me laugh heartily! First WOL wedding and you say WHEN not if!!!That would be something,dear friend.
On Smell(still on the Miracles of senses)
My favourite store re-opened and it was on Friday last that I made up my mind to go there.Bought incense sticks made in Pondicherry.Here goes:
African Violet,Magnolia,Raindrops,Honeysuckle,Tuberose,Gardenia.I bought these for myself and a fine bone china cup in blue(the Magic of Blue!!!)-purely as an indulgence.
So please take your pick, dear friend,and there were more of them fragrances with more exotic names:-)
Love,
sheela
Oh they sound lovely Sheela! Raindrops for me today, I love them.
Perhaps we can get together and have a cup of tea too. You bring your blue cup, and I’ll bring my favourite red one (it has the word Love in about 15 different languages). And I have a lovely tea blend called “sunshine” which I think should go particularly well with blue… :)
With love, Daniel
ooh ooh!! I love all these, I think I will try the Honeysuckle! I don’t know what that is, but sounds awesome!
And I ll bring my orange cup :D
Bring on the tea Daniel and a SUNSHINE too!! <3
Love and Graditude
Annie
suurrealismoo o
que son los fans…
uno pra me e voçé
tête a tt
? ¿
1/2 = 50%
It’s a sign of our times that many people are living in a ’surreal’ or fantasy world through the use of social networking sites such as Facebook.
This can be a result of boredom, loneliness and feelings of insecurity. I find it sad to see so many young people here in Egypt, for example, driven to the excessive use of FB through unemployment and despair about the future. Here they can safely escape from the reality of their daily lives. Actually they usually sleep all day and go on the internet at night! Also there is the danger of addiction and we often hear of cases of people neglecting their families, their ‘real’ friends and also their work obligations.
Of course, these sites are good if used properly. Through them it is easy to meet, get to know new people and exchange opinions and ideas across cultures. I don’t have much time for FB and only have a few friends, most of whom are family or close friends in real life. This is a quick and easy way of keeping in touch and exchanging photos etc. as we are all scattered around the world.
By trial and error, I have learnt some interesting things about friendship on FB, the most important being not to believe everything you hear from your friends! Last year, I noticed that a particular woman was leaving identical ‘love’ messages on the boards of two of the men I had met on Friendzii application from FB, so I decided to accept their friendship requests as a kind of experiment to see how these people interact with each other!!! Both men do not know each other but they both seem to believe that they are the “Special One” for this woman, because they reply with applications such as ” You are everything for me” or “I cannot live without you!”
They also send me things such as videos, hugs, kisses, hearts and flowers but I notice that they seem to have clicked on the “SEND TO ALL” button so they weren’t sent exclusively to me !!!
The last notification I had was “(…..) slept in with you, and 2,845 others.” This is ridiculous! An email or phone call from one of my real life friends, means so much more to me than these stupid applications.
I am very happy to have found this Blog through Facebook. It is really wonderful to share the ideas of everyone here. Each one brings something special and reveals a part of their identity in the comments they make. I feel I am getting to know so many of you and look on you as my friends. Thank you to everyone!
I don’t have 20.000 friends in my life, either on Facebook, either on Twitter but:
- I love Facebook because he allows me to share some music, jokes, photos with my friends or my family, to make absolutely “weak” tests but which make me laugh a lot
- I love Twitter because he allows me to share moments of enjoyment or a reflection of moment with my good relations
- I like the mobile phone because he allows to remain free of my movements while remaining to connect with my friends or my family
- I love Skype because he allows me to discuss a long time at a lower cost with the persons who I love and who are physically very far from to me
- I love Deezer because he allows to put and to listen to on his computer all the musics that we like and discovering the other musics by the way ” of persons of obscure repute ” which love Deezer also
Hurrah Internet, Hurrah the communication! :))
Each is free to make use of it or not, to find another way there of communicating or not…each this freedom thus… Hurrah the space and satellites!
Light & Love,
Hurrah, Hurrah, Hurrah the internet…. it is a beautiful amazing and incredible gift.
:D
Yes…Hurrah Internet and we are free to use it in consciousness or not…to each the choice according to her personality…:))
Light & Love,
Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!
interesting views…i agree with mr coelho. started fb after relocating from one country to another, staying in touch with friends and making new ones. i found a distant relative in u.s.
after 3 years more or less active use i realised that real friends are the ones i phone and email anyway. past or random acquaintances never write to me,never share real experiences with me, why keep them, why “collect” them on fb. new ones, well – prefer to meet people in real, too much selfpromtotion going on on fb,people prentend to be something that is just a fraction of their personality. is more like a mirror, you have a conversation with yourself and think others are watching…., most likely not. or if, even creepier.watching out my window i see people alone in their rooms in front of their computers. having no relationship but computertime. believing the world as explained by computers not making their own experiences,afraid to start a conversation with a stranger in the street.
fb- its not real connection. it turned into a big advertising machine!
since i stoped fb, i have more time to read, to reflect, to make a call, take a walk etc. i can happily life without it.
aww man i wanna add paulo coelho as a friend =/
Saw and felt you standing behind me.
(Can, shall I turn around?)
I am not you and I have no knowledge of you.
Am interested, curious and excited of course.
Now you are invited. You can visit me if you want.
Simply ask, miracle.
Since we speak about Facebook I will tell you a real story: When I was at school there was a girl a few years older than me. She was the best student, beautiful and talented. She used to sing the ‘Ave Maria’ like an angel. She went to Italy and studied singing and got married there to an Italian from a famous family. She gave birth to a son but she was not happy. The parents of her husband were interfering with the couple’s life and child. So she returned back home. She was not allowed to see her child.. Last week I heard that she found her son in .. Facebook, a man of 46 years old and he comes to see her and she visits him… The miracle of facebook.
If only we communicate with the other … dimensions so easily and … have PROOFS, dear Paulo Coelho.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Lovely beautiful ending (and starting) story … Personnally, I do not hold nothing against Facebook or Twitter. I think what is there is the time that we put in that medium to develop relationships vs the time we put in our personal lives to develop relationships and grow from that powerful natural instrument. As for the other dimensions, it is possible … but we are not in that case in “control” :-) and/or depends on the quality and time invested in that “type” of relationship. With love, Jojo.
Dear BFF,
Your story gives me the chills…Wonderful!
Heart
xxx
Beautiful hirtory Thelma.
It is amazing how much controversy facebook arouses amongst friends and family.
So i’d like to set my record straight – for all the accusations that facebook is, as my brother nicknamed it, fake book; that it is a waste of time and … oh golly, i’ve heard it all.
In a world where we can live in different countries from our families and friends; a world where ‘work’ can consume our time and leave moments for exchanges superficial or fleeting; a world where, without the telephone directory we have lost touch with our old friends…
then social communities like facebook or twitter are fine by me.
I have reconnected with so many people from the past, who, through the complexities and consequences of life I had lost contact with… and now play a simple game of scrabble online every so often ;o)
There are many other reasons… but for now; here’s a cheer for reconnection!
Hear Hear!! :D
Absolutely.
Life separates people, just through its course, and I have been amazed at how many many people I have forgotten about, but who remained hidden in my heart.
It is such a beautiful thing to hear from these people again, like finding the end of a thread, you know is out there but are not quite sure where.
:D
Great post Catherine. It’s almost as if the universe as sent a subtle message “Hey, remember your humanity? Remember your connections?”.
So the next time someone says to me “people can’t connect any more, they need facebook and twitter and the internet” I will agree wholeheartedly and say “YES! Isn’t it GREAT!”
With love, Daniel
Bravo Catherine
Dearest Paulo,
Just recently there was this email from FB asking me to complete my registration- all this after I had deactivated my account some months ago!
I can’t imagine having 20,000 friends! and virtual ones at that!
I enjoy talking on my mobile to this male friend of mine(more so because he keeps me in splits with his take on life!) and love hearing from my sister in Chennai.She’s a ’scream’ too! Love hearing from my new friends on email( who I met on your blog)as well as via their lovely posts on your blog.So a Big thank you for that.
My cup of joy runneth over…:-)
Love,
sheela
13/12/2099, Cemetery,
X :are you still alive?
you :no, i’m dead? don’t you see where i am (in the grave)!who are you?and why are you asking me?
X : it’s not important to know who i am? but…
to be continued
It is true. And yet the whole world builds on this surrealism as if it where the rock on which to build our house on.
Those who believe this surrealism, sooner or later collapse, feeling empty, crying for truth and authenticity.
Then they start reading your books Paulo, and they feel better for a while as if your book were a quick fix. But once they have finished reading it, they return to the world they came from, and carry on proclaiming surrealism as the One And Only Believe.
No wonder though, because all of us have a tendency to continue doing what we are used to. It’s hard to break away from old habits, it’s hard, but not impossible if your heart is set to it.
So many people are affraid of being alone, because they confuse being alone with being lonely.
If they only new what magic is found in stillness, in solitude.
Watch and learn, for where do profets go in order to speak to the Most High?
Damn right, they go up the mountain, into the desert, because truth, meaning and purpose are given once we surrender in vulnerability. Only then can we hear and understand the whisper all around us, the Voice of Wisdom.
May solitude be your friend, may your ears learn to understand silence, for it is the dwelling of the Spirit Of Wisdom.
this is why im not a part of fb or any other social networks, i feel that its all too fake. i’ve left people in the past for a reason, I want to move forward without looking back at them. maybe i’m wrong though since nothing seems to go my way.
WE ARE ONE!!! We want to love and be loved.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Yes Thelma is my desire
Very interesting thoughts Jenny and Thelma!
There was, at one time in my city, concerned parents over ‘fakes’ on the internet, and just as many concerns that people could not make ‘real’ friends using the internet. Concerns can be helpful and are appreciated for the grains of truth.
In ‘real life’ or internet, some experiences are wonderfully pleasant, and some hurt. I agree dear Jennie, that some lessons are painful when learning about trust and friendships (all kinds of things in life!).
But what helps me, is to strive to find the lesson, forgive, then try again (practise). Usually for me, a mistake was exactly the right way to learn, with perfect timing too! First, to begin with learning more about and being a great friend to myself. The qualities that I like, love and nurture is then what I can offer to friends.
But the fun is also in growing, learning and making changes. And, becoming better with practise, at making choices.
Thank you for sharing your worries and will be thinking of you Jennie, and hope you will not give up in finding at least one friend to walk along with, when you choose.
Thelma, soooooooo beautiful. I agree wholeheartedly that we are one and want to love and be loved.
Much Love to All, Jane : ) xo
Love to you, dear Jane.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
It’s a Holiday Inn!
~~~ She is swimming in it ~~~
Ja”baby, she’s got it”
:)
It is not very strange that this happens nowadays.
Talking via internet is faster, modern and popular.
But, I think, the MAIN reason that some people resort to internet, is that it “protects” us.
- We can say things, we wouldn’t dare in real life.
- We can pretend that we are someone else.
- It is easier (perhaps less humiliating??) to apologize via net, rather than face to face.
- There is no eye contact, so emotions and face expressions cannot be expressed.
- And if a dialogue goes bad, we can just…disconnect!!
So, the above could reveal a good reason for our silent telephone. Because, we are supposed to communicate face to face and deal with the consequences. We are supposed to say what we feel, to apologize or to start a quarrel, to laugh or let our face become red from the anger, to let our expressions “signify” what we really are.
The choice is ours. BESIDES, NATURE ALWAYS FINDS A WAY…!
Of course, above, I am talking about the wrong use of internet…
Hi Yannis. I especially love Your last sentence. Nature always finds a way. Couldn’t be more true.
Hugs,
Liina
Hello dear Liina,
The phrase is “stolen” from the movie “Jurassic Park”. But I think it is SO TRUE, that I should end all my posts with it!!
Take care and thanks for your comment…
Does someone want to take a coffee in Paris with a virtual anonymous student?
Hi…. If only I was in Paris I would take a coffee with you!! The hot chocolate is delicious in Paris with a croissant! Enjoy..
S.
I will take a coffee, in “REALITY” with You in the morning (because it’s almost 2am here right now and I am sleepy, dreaming of a pillow to rest my head on), on the condition I can stay in Estonia and also that I do not have to be anonymous, but can stay as a student aswell.
But in my thoughts I’m already having that coffee with You. In Paris.
Love,
Silly Liina from Estonia
Hmm…That could be dangerous…I’m not that desperate !!!
It couldn’t be Paulo, could it..??? If so, the answer is ‘Yes’!!!
Can’t make coffee in Paris tomorrow unfortunately, but you are welcome to County Tipperary, Ireland for a pint of Guinness anytime!
Shane.
That could be a dream, travelling the world to take a coffee everyday with Coelho’s readers.
Love to all
J.
Btw, your btw speaks volumes.
Hi Sandra,
I’m glad I’m not the only one! I was thinking the same thing! Mind you, it’s open to interpretation !!!
Friendship measured in: Quantity, quality, or even the things that go beyond these two words/thoughts.
this is so true. not thousands bt stil i hv hundreds f frnds on fb and orkut and most f them r totally strangers living on other planets and galaxies and i dont even knw why are they appearing on my friends list. lucky tht if not dozens, i hv few ppl around who always keep callin me seeing me. cant imagine life without no one to talk to
… modernisation! Ole! ;o))
That’s why I closed my account on FB, i sent a final message…”to those who know me, you know how to find me and for those I met it’s been a blast”
Bless
Paulo, qualquer dias desses eu me registro no face book, ja estive no twiter e achei uma porcaria, nao acredito que amizades possam existir nesses meios de comunicacao, acho tudo muito supercial….nao consigo me acostumar com a ideia…. e muito mais do que surrealismo…
For me, personally, relation is the way to know myself, to discover myself, to grow, to transform, etc … I lived many years away from all, well not being there with all of me, maintaining relation on a level that prevented me from hurt (defence). I would be able to be “in communication” with many people, be it 2000, on Facebook and or on Twitter, but that does not appeal me. I prefer to develop my relation to myself, to the other and that impact on the Universe “in live”. My phone does not ring that much … it rings from the calls of the ones with whom I travel, for a time, be it short or long. One day, I realized that I was there in my work, accomplishing what I believe is my vocation, until I realized that I could not be a light for others if in my personal life I was enduring relations that I should not, I was not investing myself in the relations that were important for me, close relations, and I, and I speak for me, saw that I was not being authentic, true and that I needed to put my attention to the relations surrounding myself. I like to have a hello, a say, a word of encouragement, etc, from all over the world, to read, etc, from far away, but I am prudent because I can by that way take from the time I need here and now in my vicinity, my territory, my environment and disperse myself everywhere and not go deeper and deeper to change what needs to be changed, to discover what needs to be discovered. Changes, transformation must go to a level deeper than just rational and I need the proximity of the relation, the experience of the relation “life”. In all things, there is positive but also its opposite. I do not reject that kind of medium to experiment the relation, but I say one must be in harmony, balanced between the two poles, and in that citation, well, in my mind, there is truly a need to see and comprehend why the phone is not ringing. We are meant for relations and need the relations, the power of the relation. I personally do not think that virtual relation can be as powerful as a relation that requires all senses to be there. For me, I am in relation when I can capture, utilize all my senses, be all there. So, I could have the ability to be in many virtual relations, but I would miss important levels … for me. Well, the important thing for me is to not forget that I have a place to occupy, a mission to undergo, an heritage to leave where I am with whom I was meant to be. Surrealism to have 2000 virtual friends and no call from friends in the vicinity … not surrealism … a problem that needs to be solved. Cordially, Jojo.
I ate two jesuits the other day. It was truly surreal!
Logical… having twittet & FBd to 20K +, there’s nothing else worth while talking about… better to live & act… than to talk… Love, Paul
I never have spend too much time in internet. This blog is the only place I always thought it was worth while writing. I never was interested in “collecting” friends in communities, because I have enough next too me.
Better spare the time and talk to those who live next to you – family, friends, colleagues. There is still a lot worth while talking about which you did not know.
…and yes Paul, live, love, act, work! This is real live!
Nevertheless I am very pleased to see you here again, dear Paul!
Love Monika
I think facebook is a …. good place to be .. informed about someone you love and do not want to .. disturb them with … phone calls!! Just a .. ‘move’ there, we know he is well and alive; up on the … clouds or down to earth .. living and acting.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Dear Thelma,
thank you for the hint, but I am thinking about leaving internet activities and spend this time for sport and fitness.
Dear Monika you can do both : internet activities and sport and fitness and live and act and love! Just keep the .. balance!
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Paul, Thelma, Monica, all…
I guess we’ll have to do what ever that makes us be and feel balanced. Funny, yesterday someone I knew told me the same thing, that they will keep away from the net for at least 2 months.
I think it’s great, if we are able to listen to ourselves (mind and body), to our needs, that in the end of the day, will keep us ‘alive’.
Be well
That’s it Liina!
What I need now urgently is to do something for my body. I have strong pains in my muscles as a result of operations. I have found a great fitness coach so I am very motivated. Paulo is my “coach” for optimism and spiritual questions :-), but now I have to take care of my body to feel balanced. Therefore I shut up now and do it.
Enjoy the workouts and finding that balance! It will be a great feeling if You strive and find it.
Be well, Monika.
Dear All,
Yes, I agree that there is truth and real concern.
I love hearing people speak and use the telephone. It is fun to make the time to have a coffee date by phone with family and close friends or even a quick ‘thinking about you’ call. I like to have a few ways of connecting in case of emergencies too.
But, made a few new internet friends and want to expand now, to talk with each other!! This is why I am exploring several options for long distance calling to also include the landline (cell phone gets too hot during longer conversations).
I cannot sit at the computer comfortably to enable concentration for more than a few minutes. But as someone above mentioned, Skype is a wonderful option for many (may also be free?).
The motto at our city’s tele-Miracle network is ‘Ring Those Phones!!’
Wishing everyone a great day and Lots of Love to All, Jane : ) xo
Sorry, forgot one thing ; )
One night I ran into an acquaintance playing music and during his break, came over to chat. I asked if he had a website or a Facebook page and he said ‘No, thankfully all business is through an agent. I care about the friends right here, that would come and help me out of trouble at 3 in the morning’.
Having even one caring friend in the world is a blessing.
Thank you for listening. Move Love, Jane : ) xo
Of course this is not … surrealism.. it is the today’s REALITY. It pictures the lives of our busy times, but of the loneliness we, people feel in the materialistic society of today. 2,000 or 20.000 or 200,000 friends are just numbers with added 0000s. The fact is that we are us and the ..computer. But, as always, our creative mind has found the way out from the … trap! We do have ‘real’ friends that we care for, we share our most intimate thoughts and dreams, in the INTERNET. Because in real life we have become a ‘hostile’, an .. egoistisch community and our friends may share with us a glass of wine, a dinner or a … trip to the mountains -on Sundays – but they do not go beyond the surface; our Mask!
I personally may speak .. on the phone or .. alive on weekends but I have shared much more and opened my soul to you all my beautiful friends, Warriors of the Lights under the unbrella of our .. Paulo Coelho, the Magus, who has the ability to add ‘golden dust’ and ‘colour’ in everything he ‘touches’ with his beautiful aura. Thank you Paulo Coelho, for making us ‘dream’. A REAL FRIEND of our Souls.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Nice words, Thelma, I also have a lot of fun here.
Fantastic!
Thank you dear Den Rod. Yes it is a real home, here. A blue butterfly is always around..
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Thelma, The idea that even the people we see everyday(family, friends)”do not go beyond the surface” crossed my mind too, and to have you voice it makes me feel that their is truth to it. A blog like this really does go beyond what most people believe life should be about. The people on this blog can create what the banks, dinners, religion, entertainment, restaurants, can never create. To enrich the true being.
[kaltura-widget wid="sl63oxbfdc" size="comments" /]
I agree with what You said about the anomity and misusing the trust/identity: that’s done with possibilities to lie or hide the truth of one’s identity – we can and are able to become ‘pigs’ (recent advertisement in Estonia) when we start to use anomity without our real name – to hide the tracks to our identity and name. Hiding it is, in my opinion, only accepted, when a person is not doing harm with others (as purpously insulting, telling lies about some people that might leave a ‘dirty mark/spot’ on them. Politicians and famous people or people who are jealous or blindly angry at some event or people or how the situation is settled, do this kind of things. I understand where it comes from – fear of showing ones identity. So they do it often anonymously.
There was a big scandal in Estonia recently, about a young man from Spain who pretended online to be a young ’sexy’ female. He’d hide his identity to seduce young boys, play with their minds and hearts. Manipulate with them. He sent the boys some pictures of some girl, some more sexual than others. Then he’d in return ask them on MSN to send naked pictures of themselves, and on occasions videos… truly horrifying. And what is even more horrifying – some of them killed themselves because of this person, and it is proved. One mother in Estonia lost his teenaged son. Only when the story was brought to medias attention the case was solved – this person was actually a male, in his 20-s, unemployed and lived with his parents.
That’s the truly dark side of online “privacy”.
About the commercial about turning into a ‘pig’
There is a short commercial that tells a story of a person who turns into a human ‘pig’ after posting a nasty/hurtful anonymous message in a forum. (I believe in other words it is called ‘trolling in a forum’.)
But about using ‘pigs’ as a bad example in this commercial – it’s just figurative way of telling people and letting them know that even on internet and in anonymous postings, it’s able to track this post. And if it is neccecary, the person can be caught.
The visual ‘transformation’ from being anonymous with ‘courageous’ words full of hatred to a discovered person with an ID, face, name and questionable priorities.
I think it comes from an old belief that pigs are shameful and dirty animals, but in fact, this is not true. But some beliefs and ways of thinking are hard to change. Although, to understand the real idea (and the hidden humour) behind this commercial, You would have to be an estonian or seen a certain cartoon, because it is an ‘old joke’ around here. It started from a cartoon from (I believe) 80’s, when a boy, whenever he’d do things against the rules, or things that would not be concidered ‘ethical’ or ‘nice’, he would immidiately turn into a pig.
I love pigs, but not the human kind.
All best,
Liina
Very sad story, about the man pretending to be a sexy girl. And you know is only one example, lots of variants lure on line. Indeed parents must watch kids, but grown ups too might be so vurnerable. Myself I am not rich, not very young, but I am continually asked money, invitation to my country(just because we dont need passport to travel in Europe, and all pretend at least in the beginnig they are in love with me…what a shame.) Thank you for reply, and thank you dear Theresa too.
Love
Alexandra
Thank you, dear Alexandra for a lovely video.
I was interested to hear your ideas, especially those relating to the unknown identities of some online friends. This is a real danger especially where children are concerned…sometimes leading to criminal sexual activity…even deprived adults can be lured into such acts when they least expect it!
Love, Theresa
Having 20,000 virtual friends …
this can be a new way how isolation & alienation can look like in our time (if we assume that one does not have anyone to call on a weekend – why waiting for a call?).
However, being surrounded by people, living in a small village of a couple of hundred people, where everyone knows everyone …
Even in such a “traditional” form of living: isolation & alienation can exist, and may have worse consequences – including suicide – than having many virtual friends.
the virtual communication can have positive power because it takes place among cultures and different religions, and thus can bring a new closeness and a better understanding of “the others.”
i think it is true.
yet still i do not want to agree because these invisible friends really encourage me.
one pop artist said recently, ’some say electro music sounds cold and not real because it is ‘electronic’. but it is not true because there is some emotional connections from my fans, which come from their hearts’. (sorry i forgot what she really said but she said something like this)
i really agree with her. i think it is all about our hearts.
also, i see Paulo in my dream a few times. every time he tries to say something with his difficult face, i do not understand what he is trying to tell me. and when i try hard to understand it, i woke up. i feel like is there anything that i need to know about it? well, my point here is sometimes invisible friend visits me while i am sleeping and maybe trying to help me on something. so invisible friends are very important as well:)
thanks for reading
love and magic
chieko
Hi chieko!
‘his difficult face’?? Giggles.
love & admiration,
Heart
:) lol
Hi Marielle!
Long time no see. I am still curious what Chieko means :) To me Paulo’s face is …very innocent looking, with a little bit of mischievous expression when he smiles!! I would like to hear more what a difficult face expresses :)
Love,
Heart
HI BFF, I think ‘Paulo’s difficult face’ may mean: his penetrating, beyond the surface, eyes and his .. child’s like .. smile. The .. qualities of a Magus that make us feel … diaphanous, transparent in front of him. May God bless him and you too.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Dear Thelma. Yes, I haven’t seen his eyes yet, you HAVE. I love to hear your impression of his face. Very beautiful experience. And in this aspect, a face, I really believe we have to see it three dimension flesh and blood, to get a complete impression..In fact, doesn’t it take a lifetime to get to appreciate every little expression in a face of a loved one. I have seen Paulo’s face in many pictures and videos and in a few dreams. Words to describe it for me is kind face, happy face, open to listen face, playful face, seductive face…definitely a face I like very much. I wonder if I would be intimidated by his face? Hope not. I cannot imagine his face enraged, although I believe he has quite a temper!! This is a face I do not want to see in him!!
Yes, God bless him, and you too Thelma, always.
Your own face is the sweetest face on earth!!
Heart
xxx
hi heart,
sorry for replying late.
yes, in my dream, he had a serious looking face. and he really trying to tell me something. but i could not hear so i look at the movement of his lips and as i really tried to figure out what he was saying, i woke up. i was a bit exhausted.
but yesterday, i had a good dream. Paulo was, i think, a captain of a spaceship. and from my impression, i was the designer of the ship. it was so beautifully built. the ceiling was like a gothic cathedral, there were three vertically high ceilings. and everything was painted in white and there were numerous lighting all over the ceiling. then very interesting design happening in the below. there was no floor. you can find the exact same design of the ceiling in the bottom. so there were three long bottoms with the same numerous lighting. my depictions is not so good but it was really beautiful. then he said something like good job. so i woke up with a good feeling.
anyway, thanks for reading.
love
chieko
Fogot to say that I bought the Witch of Portobello today (at last!) and will begin reading it when I get to bed..
Siobhan, Your post made me smile. It sounded like a child opening presents. Enjoy!
Hi Nancy… Yeah.. it is like a present!! I always love to start a book when I go to bed. S,
Have been reading through the blog. Amazing the different opinions people have. Personally I like to communicate this way.. but I have a choice and I can choose who I want to communicate with, so it’s great. Also when my son was in Peru on holidays I was able to talk to him on SKYPE when he found an internet cafe. I was on line and saw that he was also, so made me realise the world is so small. (i’m in IReland)
Dear Siobhan,
Nice to meet you. My name is Oksana and I come from Russia. I would like to ask you a question that interests me. If you find it impolite, please just ignore it. I have recently read a book in English and there was a character with the same name as yours. It seems so beautiful! But I find it difficult to pronounce. How is your beautiful name pronounced?
With kind regards,
Oksana
CHEVON IT IS IRISH
It’s and Irish name… the English version is Joan. It’s pronounced SHIV AWN (the A has a long sound). Thank you for your comment.
:) Smiling.
Indeed, every day we learn new things. ;)
(Great sense of humour, btw.)
Thanks,
Liina
Exactly, dear Liina, exactly: never fail to learn something new;-)
Dear Siobhan, thank you so much for your reply!
My kindest regards to all of you,
Oksana
I don’t use twitter, and Facebook only occasionally. However I used to belong to an experimental virtual world called Ages of Avatar back in 2000. This was a relatively small virtual world, but the small size helped to grow a tight knit, caring community of regular visitors you wouldn’t necessarily get with a larger world. Though the world closed down after about half a year, we stayed in contact for much longer, met up various times, and for the last 5 years, 2 of them have lived with me in my house.
My main point is this: all three of us were to some extent introverted and alone. Online relationships can be transferrable to ‘real life’, and are particularly good for those of us who are not so outgoing; though I admit it’s not healthy to live your social life exclusively on the internet.
Love to all,
Mapley.
(P.S. I’ve just finished ‘The Valkyries’ today and intend to converse with my angel from now on – Thank you Paulo.)
I’d say ’surreal is that I’ve met people for all over world without even traveling out of my room’.
But about the weekly quote:
Yeah, it depends what we consider a friend to be. And if You are famous, known, popular or not. The websites and communication portals use words as ‘friend’ … “add this person as a friend”. That’s the twisted logics here. Only possibility. This or no adding.
Love,
Liina
Oh siento haberme equivocado de nuevo.
Al leer la frase me dije en esta frase hay sentimiento, hay corazon, me equivoque.
Buenas noches y hasta siempre.
I think social networking has broadened the definition of friendship with the potential of making it shallow. I say potential, because it has made it possible to touch many people instantaneously. You can touch them with a meaningful tweet or you can bore them with what you ate for breakfast, your choice. It has eliminated the obstacle of distance and now we can show up to each other anywhere in the world. With all of this comes some negatives too. And we do have to remember that it does not replace a phone call or a face to face conversation or a hug for someone we really care about!
Thanks,
Sherry (evolutioninconsciousness.blogspot.com)
brilliant…paulo sign of the times….dont speak! dont speak!
Hi all, I would like to share this haiku with you:
winter stillness-
only a sparrow
to share my meal
Well, I may have a different point of view than all those friends who shared their opinion here. I am somebody who rarely answers a phone call. I prefer to stay alone to read and write. Writing needs a high level of concentration. Imagine somebody coming to visit while I am in the middle of the “Poetical Moment” which imposes itself on us when it wants, the same as a cloud rains whenever it wants. Whenever I feel bored, I prefer to go to the sea. Nature comforts me a lot. I enjoy watching nature. This led me to writing haiku such as:
cloudy morning…
a kite flies higher
than its string
A phone call is a way of communication. You can communicate through the net, too. Real people may hurt for evil is increasing in the world. You can delete a person from your list in the net. But, in real life this leaves scars.
Thank you dear Paulo for this lovely quote. I wrote a short story in which I mentioned your novel : “The Alchemist”. If you like. I can send it to you.
Best Regards, Rita.
Namaste,
Surreal as it may be, it is breathtaking to realize that within those 20,000 people on facebook, the world is represented. Although the phone may not ring, I can touch a life in China with a few taps on a keyboard. Peace comes through communication.
Love to you
Yes peace comes through communication, internet has helped bring the world on a sort of common platform. ultimately it is a question of awareness, are we awre of how we spend our time, distractions are thousand and one, focus is needed.
love
aditya
Namaste Aditya,
Focus is always important in life. It keeps us to our path, but the distractions can provide life lessons as well. :-)
There is a wonderful American story by a gentleman named Baum called The Wizard of Oz. Most people know it through the Judy Garland movie from 1939. It’s a wonderful metaphor for life to me. Dorothy’s focus was on getting home, but everything which happened along her path makes the fulfillment of her goal that much more profound.
Love to you
Normality and Absurdity depend just on your position(inside or outside Camera Obscura),but it is always the choice what to experience.
and then ….
let the experinces, expereince themselves, u just be ??
Hi Irina
love
aditya
Paulo if they know your phone number,you have a big problem !!!
Then you can stay next your telephone to answer phone calls.
We live double lives, more like James Bond, trying to be something we aren’t or outlashing our inner feelings and personality.
Having over 500 friends in facebook and twitter is irealistic, how can you handle them, no one can interact with all of them on a daily bases.
It’s just a waste of time, money and effort to get glued into the virtual world, its still lifeless how much the technology is advanced, even with SecandLife.
heh heh he !
Hi shula !
taking care of the one life is such a ‘time -consuming’ effort who has the drive and pateince to take care of second life — apparently there are many, Zesus was right, we are fast asleep, we have eyes which we don’t use to see, which we use to project our visions if at all we develop one, we have ears which we don’t use to hear, we hear only that we wish to hear.
sadly, the world will go one like this making u spin faster and faster, so watch out !!
love
aditya
For me, I have over 500 friends on FB, twitter not that much because I don’t use it, and 200+ contacts in chat..
And even with all these friends, I do – as everyone else- feel lonely some times. And the fact that annoys me the most is that me and most of my friends we live in different countries.
The internet is the way that we use to communicate almost every day, but yet when I am feeling sad or upset and I badly need a hug internet is useless then.
So I dare say that it all lies in a balance. OR that all my close friends and I move to one city :P
Love,
I may be wrong but when Paulo tweeted this quote, he followed it by saying not his phone, so he was probably not talking about himself.
It would be hard for me to believe that Paulo’s phone does not ring, if that’s the case, I can change that! :D
It is Surrealistic, and not Real! Friendship surely has changed over the years, friendship used to constitute sharing, playing, laughing, talking, crying together, even fighting, to something so virtual and distant, posting a picture comment and a few ’sweet’ words! Hahahah… that’s kinda funny! Most times you don’t even know who the other person is… it’s like having an imaginary friend, I don’t need the computer to have imaginary friends, LOL.
There is a positive side to it, I think people feel less lonely now because they have so many friends online, and when they need someone and don’t have anyone in real life, that need is satisfied in a way, contact with another person…
Everything has it’s good and bad points.
But back to you Paulo, you should get a phone with a fan in it to prevent it from blowing up because your phone now is going to be ringing off the hook ;D
I would think Paulo has a couple of phone numbers!!! One for his nearest and dearest and one for his publicist and business!!!
Hi C !
hope u are doing as well as u always dreamt to !!
this lonliness stuff would kill us alive if we are not very clear on the issue. better one sees that being alone is no problem, in fact a great oppertunity to dive deep within ( Just like being in compnay is great oppetunity to ….. have fun.
and by the way ’surreal’ is not necessarily bad, sometimes when we come across heartbeat stopping beautiful moments, beauty ( like your eyes ;-0 ), then also one feels this surreal stuff !
HOW about having a no TV, no net month in a year, let people just hang out togather or better still go to meet their old relatives here and there !!
love
aditya
Paulo is a writer… not… a caller…thank goodness…;-) Love, Paul
Yes, dearest Paul, not like some … disturbing .. night callers!! ;-]
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Yes… and MB has found me on Skype and other networks… but thank goodness for the Block Button…;)
The electronic world has invested millions in digital technology… but people still call without showing their telephone number… I never answer my phone when I cannot see the number… For those who legitimately try to reach me, sorry, so please let me see your number…
Love, Paul
So, how do we know, that we can …… LIGITIMATELY try to reach you, dear Paul????? ;-]
Better leave you try to reach us!!
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Who has more than three good friends has none.
i agree with that.
Nope.
Real life is more complex & beautiful. it should not be simplified in this way. I have more than 5 REAL friends.
- friendships can have different qualities …
- people can have different expectations for a specific friendship.
- friendships need to be taken care of.
- age influences the number of friends.
this can all influence the # of friends :o)
Can we really count them? I guess in a way even our so called “enemies” are our friends. Why? BEcause everything teaches us something. . .
The question dear Liina, is, can we count “on” them… my experience proves sadly, invariably not… better to have a small manageable number (1 hand Katie;) Life teaches us everything… if we keep our senses alive… Love, Paul
My question is – can we always count on ourselves? We, at times, even disappoint ourselves, as life show us.
Counting on a person can also mean different things to people.
Still, I cannot count them to a certain number. But I agree with the thought that better to have real friends instead of the ones that ‘pretend’. Managable number… we cannot step over our shadows.
Love,
Liina
Is this another victim of the Winner Stands Alone! My phone never rings – the last call I got was from the insurance company… ha!
Kealan, Funny :)
ha!
Dear Kealan, of course you are joking! I cannot believe it… You such a handsome, kind young man..
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
It is not surrealistic, it is sad.
hmmm… perhaps you are ex-directory so not in the phone book ;o)
In such case I think that the term friend has to take an other signification. Or just invent another one. That is a reason why languages and terms keep changing….:PP
And about the phone…Well I’d like to say nothing. Too sad.
But maybe better let it be that way. Can you imagine all of them ringing your phone during all the weekend. Let it better be some annoying peace. Enjoy surrealism!…:PPP
The quote illustrates a very present-day occurrence. Sometimes it becomes a status-quo to exhibit the most number of friends. I have been blessed with lovely real as well as online friends. Both of them (online as well as real) stood by me when I was undergoing a difficult time. Both offer a balance and comfort.
Both real and online friends make life worthwhile and I am thankful for both these groups of people.
this is a fantastic quote, a 21st century definition of the term ’surreal’. maybe even a solution to a worldwide problem. terrific.
Shane.
Better them than Fish….
;)
Do You mean aquarium fish?
No Liina…. or Yes…
I am referring to an old joke:
How many Surrealists does it take to change a light bulb?
The answer is Fish….!
:D
Sorry, I don’t know that joke. Neither do I get it. Explain?
I put that sentence (question) in google and it found the joke and it’s explanation. So, if other people do not know this joke:
Someone explained it on the web like this:
“Surrealists are artists who joined the ’surrealism’ movement – artwork that is surreal and illogical, working with images from the subconscious and fantasy.
So, the common joke ‘how many ____ does it take to change a lightbulb?’ was made surreal by the illogical answer ‘fish’.”
All best,
Liina
[kaltura-widget wid="l5598oelg4" size="comments" /]
Beautiful, but whats the link with the quote?
I love the vídeo and the music too.Thank you for this.
Thank you Aglaia, beautiful music and beautiful pictures and Symbols.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
p.s. Aglaia is a Greek name; are you Greek? t.
Paulo if I had your number….I would call you on weekends….:))
It is surreal and sometimes sets me wondering..Sometimes for me it makes me feel lonely…..
love to you Paulo xxx
Angela !
just today morning, in one of our smoke ‘table’ discussion in office a chap said that he has been given 20 free STD minutes, to call anyone within India for free for the next 20 minutes. u know where we ended up, we have all the emans of communication but not much to communicate..
and by the way sooner one gets over this fear of loneliness, better. u are all alone. u come to this world alone and u go back alone, in between also we are actually quite alone, but we have this appearance of being with others, with this whole. it is said that god felt lonly and s/he cretaed this creation, to enjoy. so enjoy whetver comes your way, company then company, aloneness then aloneness. unsolicited advise.
love
aditya
About one’s privacy:
For a while, I actually felt the need to meet Paulo in person. Later I realised that at this time of my life it will possibly not become possible because of my financial state and other things. So I sent him an e-mail, saying, what was on my mind after reading one of his books. I had no idea if he’d even read or respond to it. But I hoped that he got my message (even if I knew he’d probably get about a thousand or so a day).
After realising that there are more and more people being inspired by Paulo day by day, also seeking to get in contact with him, I felt guilty and selfish for hoping and wishing to get in contact.
A couple of days later I got relieved, because I understood something: I do not have to neccecarily meet him (face to face).
I am already introduced to him through the books – there in books are his thoughts, beliefs, attitude towards life. And I was appreaciative and felt warmth. It wasn’t giving up a dream – it was a realisation – making peace. And besides – if things have to happen, they will anyway. You never know.
And besides, if I was to meet him, I’d probably forget all the “smart words” and “meaningful things” I wanted to tell him what his writing means to me, how has it changed my and many peoples lives.
I believe he has changed and helped so many peoples lives and their thinking towards life and I am so grateful to be able to have had the “coincidence” in my life to be aquainted with his work.
Writing here in the blog with other followers, fans and friends of Paulo, sharing our lives, thoughts and dreams have set me to understand indeed, what I said about changing lives. But here it also opens up the possibility for the people to interact with each other and I think if I was to describe these people here on this blog I’d have to say that often I feel as we form a strong ‘web’, a unity, with our being, thinking, sharing. Yet we are all from different countries with different personalities, experiences, cultures… but we have one thing in common, yet. The love for life.
Even if the web of internet may seem to be away from reality, it really depends, as someone here said, if we are using it, or if it is using us.
For me, the internet was/is a good chance to get even more aquainted with Paulo, and his readers, to understand his thoughts even better – nothing is useless. Even as ‘impersonal’ as the internet CAN be.
I know behind these comments and thoughts are REAL people with REAL lives and their very real words. Even if I prefer from eye to eye contact, I also believe that it’s possible to be friends even with someone who You have never met in Your life.
Thanks.
Have a great All Souls Day.
I will light a candle now.
Love,
Liina
Very well said Liina (hope you went well with your singing the other day).
Kathleen, it was tonight and it went well.
Few days ago when I shared it, under ‘miracles’ I was rather anxious about it, because I hadn’t sang for about 10 years. Singing at home and in front of known and unknown people is not the same thing. Although after Annie said a sentence that held the thought of ‘tell us when it will happen so we can be anxious with You’, if You believe, my anxiety of disappeared on the very day I read it. So – thank You Annie!
Just before singing, I was anxious, but after introducing the song and what it was about, I stopped and thought – this is my chance to sing in the memory of my grandfather. Just when I realised that (in my mind), I was able to sing. Many of the people who came were elderly, who don’t know english… but I hope that they got my message from the song and my expression. I think I have never felt so sincere and open before…
The evening was great, there were 9 other people singing and talking about souls, selfsearching, meaning of life, spirituality – sharing their thoughts. Actually I was surprised of how open estonians can be – I haven’t felt it in a while. Was pleasantly surprised.
All best,
Liina
I am proud of you!!!!! <3
love and graditude
Annie
Thank You for Your never fading enthusiasm towards everything.
Be well, Annie.
Hi Liina,
It s nicely narrated.I liked it very much.I hope everybody should have gone through the same kind of feel what you and i have when we read Paulo’s writing
Believe in miracles….
Dhands
Acredito que devemos ter primeiro o número do telefone.Agora conseguir falar??????????????Pode ser…………Bjim ,Meire.
I logged out of facebook for a while, because I feel the same surrealism.
Hi Isabel!
why did u join in the first place, many people do because of peer pressure, because it is the ‘in-thing’ etc etc. when will our enchantment with the new end, only when that enchantment ends, can we see the old in new light !!
love
aditya
I dont have 20000 friends, and my phone ring rarely during week end, but is not so bad, for I could read your novel meanwhile…
I think many seem more friendly when they have not to face real situation and real people. Sorry. Not real people, I mean somebody near. I was amazed when I got my pc and I started chat, how many were willing to be my friend, stick on me, when in real life almost nobody notice me, or not the people I wish to notice me.If you need a phone call, dear Paulo, I will call you each week end, just let me know, anytime…(as a friend, of course).
Much love
Alexandra
O telefone não toca mas todos os 20.000 pensam em você e admiram você e a internet proporciona esse contato, mesmo que virtual. Eu sou fã dos seus livros e sempre dou uma espiadinha no seu blog e site para ver o que anda fazendo, você virtualmente faz parte do meu dia a dia. Não temos o contato físico o olho no olho, mas sinto você perto é muito louco isso, não ??
Até mais…
hi freinds,
can someone show me how can we spend 1 week debating this pseudo-quote?
i really don’t have any courage to do it?
i think we should continue discussion about dreams , life , existence…! may be i’m wrong?
may be i’m not so intelligent to understand wath does it mean, or may be i can’t understand it because i don’t use facebook or hotmail… so i don’t expect calls during the weekend at all!
good discussion,
I think internet, or at least social networks are a part of life/existence. For me personally, I spend a lot of time on Facebook and most of the time I’m available on chat so it’s part of my existence at least. And in a post I just wrote, it shows how relevant this quote is to my personal life.
But honestly a part of me envies you; not having facebook, or chat, I imagine does simplify things.
But yes of course it’s not because you aren’t that intelligent to get the point, it’s just different realities and understandings.
Much love,
Walaa
Hi soufine !!
the best very best way in which u can spend one week is by staying away from everyone for a week, don’t even talk, don’t comminicate, just feel yourself. first hour and u will be ready to quit, end of first day, u would have quit, if not, u would have decided, enough of this nonsence, but if u can hold on for a week, no radio, no TV, no magzines, no books, nothing. just eat minimum. give yourself a week, normally u give all of yourself to the world, give oneweek of your life, to understand yourself, that one week may change u forever !1
love
aditya
I like this quote! it’s so true . Nowdays we have more “cyberfriends” than real friends with whom you can spend real time “on live”.
i think you, you, you… (i don’t find the word..)
you… put an end to this discussion because your answer was so perfect…
waw??? that’s so clear..
we don’t need more discussion??
be happy….
Could it be the 20 000 friends don’t have the telephone number?
Or could it be that Paulo does something on the weekends and his friends know, respect & accept? :)
Suuure! Paulo…what is your number?
If you want…We call you every weekend!
:))
yeah sis, my thought too ;o)!
..and God must be a surrealist, as nobody call Him/Her on week ends either :))
well, for one thing, I hate talking to the phone………
I prefer other ways more ‘connecting’ ;o)
El telefono esta bueno,pero si estas muy ,muy lejos..internet y las redes sociales,te hacen estar cerca,compartir las cosas cotidianas con las personas que queres,tambien te podes conectar atravez del pensamiento..del alma,si sabes..si sentis de verdad,el mensaje llega enseguida…Cuando queremos a alguien siempre esta en nuestros pensamientos..aunque no nos llamen por telefono..
Un beso ..Clarisa
Sis…I hate getting phone calls when I’m in the middle of doing something else (of course with answering machines and voice mail, this problem is solved). However, during the four years of my life, when I lived alone, I loved a nightly phone call from my closest friend, who lived partly in another country, partly in other cities. We connected really well on the phone. So, I believe it all depends Annie. The closer one get to a person, the more one wants to interact in form of hearing each others voice, and of course meet in person. I do believe though, there is a quality in this form of written communication, which is lost in connecting face to face. Sometimes I miss the time when my husband and I would chat for hours and hours online every day the year before we married, as we both listened and had better dialogues taking turns writing, then we do during oral communication (sex) *kidding*.
Hugs,
Heart
Hi heart !
No kidding ! god is of course a surrealist, but not because he does not receive phone calls on weekends, god receives calls, every time of teh day, every minute and normally there is so much traffic that god is also at its wits end. everytime something bad happnes, god gets balmed for it “why oh why God 1 had this to happen to me ” and everytime there is something good, god is again flooded. it must be tough being a god that is why god prefers silence !!
your other observations about beauty of written communication is apt !
love
aditya
Yeah! Funny point of view…;)..:PP
That was a great quote sent to you.I guess this is a fine definition of surrealism indeed.There’s nothing as terrible as having so many so-called “friends” and no one to really talk too on weekend,no one real around.Real friendship is rare but is a blessing.I’m really lucky to know that.I have few real friends but they are wonderful.They are all different and if you put them in a room together that would be an hell of a party!lol
So we won’t get to see a theme of the week anymore then?A shame.
Anyway,have a nice week everyone!
Love
Candie
Or 1 when u need a bank loan u have no freind who can gurantee it !
Hi freinds !
yes it’s surreal ! this whole virual world ( sadly this site too included ) is surreal and more we are lost in it, teh further away we are from reality, whatever that is ! as if calling this whole ‘real’ world as ‘maya’ was not enough, we have this virtual world too, too keep us away, further away from ‘reality’. or is it so ! like all tools this virtual world too can be ‘used’ to further one’s quest for ‘reality’ ? how would one know if one is using the tool or getting used by it ?
personally, i don’t feel like ‘connecting’ with frinds, relatives, anyone ! only when do i have something, somework do i feel OK to call someone, this is becomming a major issue, my frinds and relatives are not me and they feel as if i am ignoring them. somehow i don’t see it that way and am perfectly happy if i don’t receive any phone calls, personal visits are most welcome though ! personally i don’t feel any need to ‘belong’ anywhere, with any group ( but one needs group if one is to sustain a less hassled life in the society ), i belong where i happen to be at any given point of time.
love
aditya
Aditya,
Can you imagine how many people would call Paulo to ask for money from him, if they had his telephone number!!
I don’t know… the virtual world is great if it’s combined with real world encounters. Really, what we have communicated in this blog, hasn’t been surreal? If I were ever to meet you Mr Aditya, I’d have the out most respect for you, having come to know a little about your thoughts here. As you, I find it hard to discuss many of these topics with family, friends and co workers, simply because we do other stuff when we are together than talking about things that matter. Personally, I like the freedom of being able to relate to online friends on my terms, for instance at any time it suits me.. and for how long I choose. Phone calls are for the VERY CLOSEST intimate family and friends…I don’t even let my mom call me every week end!! Guess I’m very restricted with how my time is spent…and VERY few gets into my private, private sphere anymore.
Love & admiration,
Heart
the comment about money is true. So far, there are tons of emails every day
Dear Paulo,
Well, what can I say…I tried to get in direct contact with you Paulo, some… a year and a half ago, by sending you a personal e-mail. You, or probably your staff, wrote me a polite, short general reply, not commenting on any of the content in my attempt to start a communication, which was a nice way of telling me that you refused such a communication, and which of course I have respected and do understand. So, I don’t believe I ever sent you another such e-mail. Yes, perhaps my words drowned in the enormous amount of mail you receive, or more likely, you took a look at it, and thought to yourself…there is another one submitting unsolicited manuscript (which the only reason I did, was for you to learn a little bit about who I am)…there is another lunatic who wants to have a contact with me a contact which you are not able to have, and therefore you do what you have to do, write a short friendly professional reply.
In fact what I had been hoping for, was that YOU would call ME…as I had mentioned before, I wouldn’t call YOU due to some superstitious beliefs of mine. Yes, now realizing how thousands and thousands other men and women wish for the very same thing, a phone call from YOU, I’m almost embarrassed to even have had such a thought on my mind. But I did. I gave you MY phone numbers…which haven’t done much good so far :))
Hi paulo !!
your smile and your being always remains with us. fame has its side effects, i am sure u are good at delaing with them.
heart has said something very candidly here. i am sure u will call her even if just to say hello.
i too came to the blog long ago because i wanted your views / endorsement for cretaing a device which will be godsend’ for anyone who wishes to live one’s life meniangfully, i was able to track the root cause of the problem of human ‘unrest’ and the perfect antidote too ( in my views ), long ago before i discovered this blog and before this blog was born in its present form, i too send to u an email, about two pages. Felicidade replied ( how can i forget ) saying the usual stuff. I am still in the process of developing trying to convince some wrist watch manufacturer to give this idea a patient hearing, but crossing the red tape is so difficult, people in creative departments work within the briefs given to them, and contrary to popular ‘campaigns’ top embrace change, change is something very few people want.
I have not made any secreat of my request to u for help, and i don’t find it wrong, if i need help, i might as well seek it.
but by and by, i also discovered that with u and so many other people here, we make a good team where we discuss ‘existential ‘issues and end of the day everyone has a better idea of the issue being discussed. spending time on this blog is not same as wasting time pintlesly on the web !
love
aditya
QUERIDOPAULO,GRACIAS ,SIEMPRE GRACIAS,POR QUE SIEMPRE QUE LE ESCRIBI RESPONDIO CON LAS PALABRAS JUSTAS QUE NECESITABA ESCUCHAR..YO SOLO QUIERO DECIRLE QUE PARA MI USTED ES UN AMIGO,UN AMIGO DEL ALMA DESDE SIEMPRE ASI LO SIENTO,LO CONOSCO DE SIEMPRE,..USTED ES MI AMIGO UNIVERSAL,CON SUS HERMOSOS LIBROS QUE LLEGAN A MI ALMA Y A MUCHAS MAS..NADA MAS SOLO QUIERO DECIRLE QUE SIEMPRE PUEDe CONTAR CON ESTA ALMA,SOMOS TODOS PARTE DE UNA MISMA…uN BESO ,ABRAZO..MUCHA LUZ DEL UNIVERSO..
CLARISA
For me it is a rule: never ask anything, especially money, from a friend and also another one: never accept ‘presents’ or favours from any one, because we are losing our FREEDOM. The only thing that I want from other SOULS is to LOVE and BE LOVED! Everyone is a … STAR; we do not need other’s light! Let’s have our LIGHT shine!
I LOVE YOU.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Wow Thelma… I hear your take on this but must disagree. If friends are not there to help, what else is friendship for? And, how can you loose freedom from a happy giver? You gain freedom from accepting a gift, and enjoying it…you gain love? To me gifts are expressions of light and love, why take this grace away? Religion is built on prayers, with God as our best friend, who we can ask whatever we wish. We can foster faith in each other by helping each other, and as they say, if you don’t ask…you don’t get anything.
I must agree with you on never to borrow money from a friend, as I have heard it has ruined many friendships…but gifts…to me its the best we can give each other. So how can I show love for you BFF? Even to take time to listen to your music, to give someone our time is a gift too, no?
Heart
xxx
Yes heart !
as u have said every ‘iinovation ‘ has a plus and a minus side to it. trying to escape one’s reality by using teh web may actually get one entangled in teh web.
communication is of two kinds – one where we commincate with the other, it can be other person, a scene, a place, even our own body. and then there is a commication where we go inside our own being ( starting question being ‘who am i’, the technique developed by raman maharshi. this second kind of commincation is most essntial if the first kind has to have any value. here is teh trick, teh maya or whatever, normally we are afraid / ashamed / aloof with ourselvs and we desprately seek the other to keep us occupied. web is neutral, but because of this second tendency web becomes a trap for most of us. the grip of ‘maya’ is too strong to break free, unless one has awakend oneself.
meeting all these people would be such an expereince !!
to your awakening.
love
aditya
Puede ser que los amigos no quieran molestar, que se retiren por no saber que paso dar o no sepan como establecer contacto…
Con cariño