As you noticed that last week I posted here “Por que odeio Paulo Coelho”. The idea came during a conversation with a friend of mine, who was talking to someone who “hates” me and my friend asked: “why?” The more the person explained, the more she got confused. While reading 709 posts I got to the same conclusion.
They hate because someone said: you should hate it. I was also caught in this trap earlier in my life, and I can remember two cases: first it was with “The Little Prince”. Everybody said, Oh it’s a very superficial book. The second time was “The Prophet” (Gibran), also because “too easy to understand”. I waste some years before reading these two masterpieces.
So I would like you to share your similar experiences. Something/someone that you had a lot prejudices and later on you said; ” it’s much better then I thought, I should have my opinion instead of having other’s opinions.”
Thank you very much,
Paulo
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I found this interesting info on “Changing minds.”
“According to studies conducted at Northwestern University (USA), men change their minds two to three times more than women. Women tend to take longer to make a decision, but once they do, they are more likely to stick to it.” !!!
Ohhh, the men know that???he he. I think is true, women more responsible.
I used to say I hated opera music until I watched THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, at the Pantages theater in Toronto, Canada, in 1994.
It was just about the best spectacle I’ve ever watched in my entire life!
Awesome! Fantastic!
Hehee… a similar thing with me, without T,C in 1994 and also without others telling me not to like it, but for some reason I did not like it myself. But I saw the musical Phantom of the Opera later and some ‘coincidences’ let me to see more opera and I started to enjoy it. I can’t say it’s my favourite, considering everything, but I do not hate it…
Hate is a strong word, really.
I think when we see things more widely, broadened, when we are not giving blind judgement and prejudice, accusations, then we stop hating.
Thanks, Den Rod
the familiar eye.
Be well.
I love to change my mind because it means discovery. It means my mind is flexible and not locked into one track. The first memorable occasion for this talent had to do with carrots. I liked only raw carrots, but cooked carrots were on the menu, and my father made me remain at the table until I ate them. After sitting there sullen and angry over the unfairness in my treatment, I ate the carrots. They were delicious!
I listen and read movie and literary reviews, but my own judgment is what I value the most. If everyone likes something and I don’t, I do try to understand what it is I may be missing in order to learn something new, unless it’s the Twilight series. Still, I read two of them: that kind of success is hard to ignore, but not one I could commit to repeating in my own writing.
Hola Paulo
Algo con lo que yo estaba prejuiciada era con los libros de ciencia ficción, me decía que esos no eran para mí y me resistía a leerlos, pero luego de leer Farenheit 451 y 1984 cambié de opinión.
Ahora sé que posiblemente no todos los libros de ciencia ficción me gustarán, pero habrá muchos que me encantarán como estos dos.
Es triste que alguien “odie” algo o a alguien sin saber por qué; gracias a Dios ese es un sentimiento que ya no tiene cabida en mi corazón.
Un abrazo.
For me, the most recent one was on Michael Jackson.
Before he died, I really did not like him. I felt his music was crappy. I couldn’t understand why so many people liked him. I honestly did not know any of his songs, and didn’t want to listen to any of them.
But after he died, a few shows were on about him, and the recent movie that came out..They all showed me that above all he was a singer for one reason; he loved music. And I couldn’t help but respect him for that. Making people happy while doing something you love is something I think we all should do.
I don’t love him now, but I think it’s an improvement :)
Hi Waala,
for me it was the same. I could not understand that people screamed in his shows and acted crazy. Thus, I was not interested in his music either. After his death, I saw several dance presentations, and I had to realize that the funk I learned to dance in the early 90s included mainly movements that were developed by him.
Thus, I really began to understand him as a good, creative dancer and have respect for him.
At the same time, I began to see that he was also a human who fought lot of demons and then having to live an isolated life.
Waala
I understand you because I didn’t like Michael Jackson so much. I did love his songs and way of dancing because he was extremely talented, his songs were very popular when I was a teenager, but there was something about his personality I didn’t quite like. And I agree with you I couldn’t help but aknowledge he was an extraordinary artist ( song writer,singer and dancer )
Right now I don’t remember any examples regarding literature, but since I’ve been subject to xenophobia because of my nationality in the country I’m currently living, I think it’s good to bring up the subject of prejudices and stereotypes regarding nationalities.
I don’t know exactly when and where I got this idea from ( that’s the worst about this type of bigotry, negative thoughts come to your mind without you realizing it ) but I had negative feelings toward Germans and Japanese ( I’m ashamed to say so) maybe because of all the stories about the Second World War.
After all , history is written by the winners.
The thing is, I had never gotten to know neither a German nor a Japanese and I completely changed my mind when I happened to meet volunteers from both countries who worked with me in my English classes during last year and this year.
As a result, I got rid of the preconceived ideas about them and I’m really grateful to them: Hisashi, Myo, Ana, Magdalena, Lavinia and Mark for showing me their kindness, warmth, and enthusiasm.
Thanks for your help, chats, shared drinks, karaoking and dancing.
It feels so good to meet different people and find out they’re not that different as you had thought.
Que buen tema “cambiar la mentalidad”. Creo recordar que me pasó un caso con un amigo, no con los libros pero si con la música: mi amigo luis que es un buen músico y gran entendido en la música siempre criticaba todos los estilos musicales excepto el rock que decía que era la mejor música, a mi me gustaban varios estilos y me fijaba también en la voz de los cantantes que para mi es un instrumento más. Tardé en comprender que Luis estaba equibocado criticaba la música clasica el tocaba de oido y de mayor fue al conservatorio, tenía que tocar canciones clásicas y un dia le oí comentar que estaba maravillado porque se había dado cuenta que toda la música salía de ahí. Esta fue la confirmación aunque yo ya sospechaba que Luis se mantenía encerrado en una cosa nada más en oposición a otro amigo Juan, músico, que a él le gustaban toda clase de estilos y
y tenía un amplio criterio.
Este es un ejemplo de lo que puede llegar a ser la influencia de los otros y tambien de tener PREJUICIOS que son los que te hacen tener ideas preconcebidas a partir de ahí procuro hacerle caso a mi gusto que es tan inteligente como cualquier músico.
Un beso Paulo.
For me it was Harry Potter. Everybody around me was so crazy about those books and for some peculiar reason this made me extremely reluctant to start them. Usually it is enough for me if somebody recommends a book or an author. Than I get curious and at least give it a try. One reason was certainly that I do not like to wait for months for the continuation of a story. But it was not the main reason. Eventually a friend convinced me to read the first book and than I got hooked. I really liked them.
One the other hand I read a lot of books by authors who won some prize and I seldom felt the need of reading a second one by the same author, because many of them are so enormously depressive and I really dislike the feeling of helplessness and desperation that they leave behind. But to mention something like that in a discussion about books is a big no-no, this is not acceptable. You are supposed to pretend to admire them, or do YOU want to claim that they did not deserve the prize?
If you on the other hand mention that you like science fiction or fantasy stories than you are considered to be weird. But sometimes such a confession can cause a happy smile because you might encourage somebody else to dare to mention that they have a similar taste.
When it comes to movies, than I fall much more frequently into this trap of eliterian group pressure. If everybody else loves a movie than this fact alone can make me very hesitant to watch it. I don´t know why. Recently I watched Titanic for the first time in my life, and Dirty Dancing. It is not exceptional masterpieces that I almost missed out on, but I liked both of them. I still have not seen Jurassic Park.
Hmmm… This gives me a lot to reflect upon. Thanks for the interesting topic.
Love,
Petra
Changing your mind-contextually approved.
Easily read books like “The Little Prince” and “The Alchymist” are among my favourites – because they touch my heart deeply. And I have enough selfconfidence to say that I really like these books. Maybe because I also have read taken subjects like political science, economics, astronomy, and so on at the university. Sometimes simplicity is a quality.
Dear diplomat, heheh
Who said that changing your mind means revealing your thoughts to those people.
Don’t tell us that you are diplomat in your soul as much as in your mind…Every body makes mistakes ;D.
Waiting for your example…
Love
Olta
Since PfA stopped pleasing people, and it is noticable that he does not give his concrete examples, I wouldn’t count on that happening. And that’s actually what I do myself. WHen I feel I have to share, I share. When I feel I shouldn’t, I don’t.
PS! Paul: considering others peoples feelings when changing our mind. Sure… if it is not triggered by the reason to only please them. ;)
Love,
L.
‘As a result, I will not “be there” on March 19th 2010 after all…’
I do not believe that you, the most loyal reader of Paulo Coelho will not be THERE! There must be a … ‘diplomatic mistake’!! Oh I ‘KNOW’ the … diplomats/politicians: they are discussing now since 1974 -the Turkish Invasion to Cyprus – to … solve the Cyprus’s problem!! ;-]
I always prefer … direct communication.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Well, dear Paul,
With sincerity I’m telling you that this is one sad thing to know.
Me my self I want to be there a lot, but still I m evaluating the situation if I really can go and of course the rest its up to who is going or not giving the invitation to me.
So I might be and I might not be there, but still the idea that you are going to miss, it feels sad.
I don’t know maybe I m wrong but, I feel like you and your personality at that party would have made a considerable difference.
Why don’t you give another evaluation at the situation and change your mind again? Please!
I don’t think that there is a limited number of times of changing your mind. ;D
Love
Olta
Dear Paulo,
I might give you a lot of examples on this topic. In past (even because of being a bit naive as nature, I don’t know how much I’ve changed now) I used to listen and give importance to others opinion, specially to my closest friends, and that didn’t happen only on books, but even when speaking about people or other persons.
Fortunately, my moto was always : “Everybody deserves a chance” and so I had the chance to see I as wrong.
I had to make that mistake a lot of time till I learned to listen to myself and to never care about others opinion’s (Good or Bad), till I see that myself.
I could give you so many examples…
Oh yes! I remember now On a book than when I still think about it today I feel seek. They were the worst and boring three hundred pages I have ever read in my whole life.
It was a classwork we had a few years ago and we had to work on two different books. We had to divide in two groups an choose to work on one book each. The professor started talking about the two books. She said that one was more difficult than the other but more interesting to read. As I like such things, I like INTERESTING things, I didn’t care about how difficult it was.
At the end I the interesting thing it was my headache, and the difficult part it was to go to the end of that reading.
I felt so stupid for a lot of reasons…
I finally started to learn my lesson in such occasions. I had a lot to lose this way and I learn to trust only on my taste.
I confess I really wanted to blame the professor for what I was going through but I knew I couldn’t. The fault was all mine for making that choice and I couldn’t blame her for her taste, could I?
In Italian there is one expression who says :
“Tutti i gusti sono giusti”
Each time I hear an opinion it comes this saying into my mind and then I tell my self, When I’ll see that I tell you if I agree…
Last weekend I was sick, but I had decided to read as much as I could. Result. I red three books in one day and have problems with my eyes now. I need time to recuperate, because I don’t want to see a single letter…heheheh…Anyway, one book I’ve read it was written by a professor of mine. Some people definitely hated it, others liked it, they found it fun, I had no opinion on it till the moment I saw it in my hands, it had the air of something very interesting.
Finally I found it disappointing. I expected much more from my professor. But I do not hate that book because it was fun too.
You know those kind of experiences has helped me to understand what is the “golden middle” too…
So, Paulo and dear friends of this blog, this is my story ;)
LOVE
Olta
Sorry I had to post this comment twice.
LOVE
Olta
Ohhh, that happened to me in the exams period, couldnt feel my eyes for pain. Will pass
Please take care, eat carrots, blueberries, help the view.
Good luck
Love
Alexandra
Dear Paulo – on the other hand, is it possible that some people love you or your work just because their peer group, or people they identify with in general, love it/you? Maybe it works both ways?
Still it is a good point. I do come across people who do not like your books, mostly because they think they are too simplistic. When I point out that this might be intentional and makes your message more universal and accessible, this can fall on deaf ears.
Unfortunately I do hate confrontation (something to do with my upbringing) and I am often afraid of openly disagreeing with people. People who can shout the loudest often gain approval from their peers even if they are talking (what I would see as) rubbish.
But although I find it difficult sometimes to stand up openly, I don’t often actually change my mind about my views (not without good reasoned argument or proof)…er, not sure if this is better or worse.
I heard once about an experiment in which a group of people were played a series of ticks.. a person was planted in the group to speak up first and say that he had heard 12 ticks, when in fact the group had been played 13 ticks. Most of the group members then followed suit and said they had heard 12 ticks! So it seems that this is, to a certain extent, only human.
I think as you get older (or maybe more confident of yourself), you find it easier to resist peer pressure…
But I’ll give you another example of mass mentality. I buy a lot of clothes in Italy, as I think they are nicer than the ones I can buy in the UK. Usually this means I have clothes which are a year ahead of the fashion trends in England. So I wear them for a whole year and nobody ever says anything.
Then, almost without fail, when I wear the same clothes the next year, people exclaim ‘ooh where do you get that, where did you get this?’ as if I hadn’t been wearing them for a whole year beforehand. Why? Because they don’t actually even see the clothes until they are ‘in fashion’…!
So what do you make of that!?
The first example that comes in my mind about this is that when I was at University I met a girl that she was friend of some friends of mine..when I first saw her the impression that I had was very bad…she was wearing expensive clothes, she was driving a fast car, she had the profile of a rich and spoil girl(her father is a rich politician in Greece and this made her look more snob)…I was thinking that this woman is so much superficial, that she cares only for matterial things and that after University she will spend her time in social events and parties…
Without even want it we were spending time together because we were in the same company…In this time I could see that she was so much different…she had dreams and hopes, she was trying to learn and she was working hard…my mind changed when I let my heart free of prejudice. She became my best friend and she is still a person that I appreciate so much. People are not what we see with the first glance…
And as the “Little Prince” says …”only with the heart we can see clear, what is essential is invisible to the eyes”:))
This was a lesson for me…
I loved your book Zahir very very much- simply changing my mind to read it again. Before I had just read the beginning and I thought that the man was depressing and I stopped reading just after some pages. This time I was tough and I also started to see similarities with my own life and my own “depressing man”. So all the best to you Paulo and another big thanks for sharing your magical love to us by literature and your great loving spirit:))
Ok so… I just read ‘The Little Prince’ for the first time! I have already read Gibran… I’ll have to come back and reply to the post another day because I am reflecting on this extraordinarily different story…
The little pince is a very good history and Khallil Gibran is my inspiration is the most beautiful reading tha I read.
Hate is a powerful word, it drains you, allowing it’s negative force to convince you to act against the other. Hate is devoid of love. I ask, is there anything in this world that you feel is totally devoid of love? I have taught my daughter to not use that word. Once, when she wanted to use it, she began with “I know mom that you say that to hate is to not have any love for something, but really mom, I cannot find love for ….”. We search together and found some love! lol It is important to carefully choose our words. If I dislike something or someone, it is the “me” that is responsible for the dislike and not the thing/person. I dislike violence, which by the way, in many cases is done out of the love of something or someone. I read this book by David Hawkins Power vs Force, it helped me understand something I knew within! Namaste!
Oh, in my tangent, I forgot an example of my own. I do try to avoid watching movies that have no meaning! My husband had rented Wally, which I was not going to watch. I had better, constructive things to do! lol However, I decided to open my mind and watch it on my own. I loved it! Perhaps that is because I found deep meaning! lol I am quite picky when it comes to movies. Open mind with self respect is the key!
‘In true love you want other person’s good. In false love you want the other person’. Paulo Coelho.
I think this is the answer to … changing our mind. But we must be honest with ourselves and not use it as an excuse for our … running away. In true love we want and NEED the other person. Life seems a .. desert without ..
We must be ‘flexible’ regarding our tastes and open to new … ‘sensations in our journey to Ithaca’, but we must also be … rocks and ‘reliable’ when we …’trod on other person’s dreams’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPGJ_aoOscE&feature=related
If you change your mind!!!!
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
I think that when someone is changing his/her mind,wether he/she takes the right or the wrong decision,it’s his/her business.Therefore people should not discuss/gossip about it.They should mind their own business.When it’s their personal case,it’s good to talk freely about it,see what it changed in yourself ect..but when they discuss other people’s case,well,it’s another matter.The ones who pretends he/she doesn’t jugde but is really well judging.People should not discuss about other people’s business,while there is so much to solve out with our own life already.Your life,your decisions,your change of mind are personal.Your life is yours and yours only.
Paulo,
Eu te odiei. Odiei porque me falaram que você não prestava.
Falaram que você se aproveitou do Raul (sou fan do baiano) e isto foi o suficiente para odiá-lo. Mesmo não sabendo se era verdade ou não, mesmo não convivendo com vocês. Que tolice…
Um dia, na biblioteca, fiquei procurando algum livro que me fizesse bem. Pedi isto ao “ar” e em seguida esbarrei (literalmente) em alguns livros de sua autoria. Pensei, pensei e pensei. Resisti alguns instantes. Alegava a mim mesmo que eu não poderia ler um livro do Paulo Coelho. Era uma pessoa que haviam me “ensinado” a odiar porque tinha se aproveitado do Raul Seixas. Mas meu impulso foi maior que meu “dogma” e peguei um livro para ler. Adorei. Conforme eu ia lendo, parecia que eu estava escrevendo, de tão semelhante o ponto de vista do livro com o meu.
Em 3 meses, li quase todos os livros de Paulo Coelho e hoje lhe estimo com muito carinho e admiração.
Percebi que para odiar algo ou alguém, precisamos de poucos motivos fúteis e sem fundamento. E para amarmos algo ou alguém precisamos de muitos motivos, o que era para ser ao contrário, certo?
Vi que amar é mais desafiante do que odiar. Odiar é fácil, amar é mais difícil, árduo e sacrificante. Mas apesar disto, é melhor. É melhor porque quando amamos tudo conspira ao nosso favor. Tudo sorri para nós… Pelo menos comigo é assim.
Então caro Paulo Coelho. Eu fui um exemplo que te odiei e hoje, de certa forma te amo (porque não?). Amo como um irmão que percorre o Caminho. Amo como uma pessoa que teve e tem as mesmas indagações que tive e tenho. Amo porque creio que Jesus está certo.
Paulo, me desculpe por ter te julgado, mesmo sem te conhecer. Seus livros mudaram minha vida. E veja como é: Uma pessoa que eu odiava mudou minha vida através de suas palavras. E Palavras que falam de amor o tempo todo.
Como é interessante a relação que o amor e o ódio tem.
Isto tudo é facinante. O fantástico da vida me facina.
Obrigado pelas palavras.
Daniel
(Mais um amigo que você não conhece…)
BACA ROJA on Tu comentario espera ser Aprobado Noviembre 23rd, 2009 9:38 am 1EMPERO la serpiente era astuta, más que todos los animales del campo que Jehová Dios había hecho; la cual dijo á la mujer: ¿Conque Dios os ha dicho: No comáis de todo árbol del huerto?
2Y la mujer respondió á la serpiente: Del fruto de los árboles del huerto comemos;
3Mas del fruto del árbol que está en medio del huerto dijo Dios: No comeréis de él, ni le tocaréis, porque no muráis.
4Entonces la serpiente dijo á la mujer: No moriréis;
5Mas sabe Dios que el día que comiereis de él, serán abiertos vuestros ojos, y seréis como dioses sabiendo el bien y el mal.
6Y vió la mujer que el árbol era bueno para comer, y que era agradable á los ojos, y árbol codiciable para alcanzar la sabiduría; y tomó de su fruto, y comió; y dió también á su marido, el cual comió así como ella.
7Y fueron abiertos los ojos de entrambos, y conocieron que estaban desnudos: entonces cosieron hojas de higuera, y se hicieron delantales.
8Y oyeron la voz de Jehová Dios que se paseaba en el huerto al aire del día: y escondióse el hombre y su mujer de la presencia de Jehová Dios entre los árboles del huerto.
this week’s topic falls into line with something I’ve been thinking a lot in the last few months: how hard it is for us to accept that people change, and change their minds.
we tend to make our own opinions about people and project them over and over again. for example, a wife that thinks her husband is insensitive, maybe because he was insensitive or abusive in the past. He comes and does beautiful gestures, sensitive, but it is hard for her to change her mind about him. Her replies are always reminding him that the nice gesture is a one-time, but he is usually not like that.
Whevener I see that I think how sad, that we become the enemies of our own dreams when our hurt prevents us from believing that even the ones that hurt us can become better people.
I see it in the women hurt by men, that can’t believe that maybe that man later in life met a woman he loves and changed and became a better, committed man. I find it sad to hear those kind of women saying things like “he’s a cheater, he’ll cheat and lie to her like he did to me, he’s a lier”. How do you know? Why are we committing people to a lifetime sentence in their own hell? Just out of envy, or bitterness, that he didn’t become a better man with me?
I wish people can grow out of hurt and see how wonderful is that husbands, even after being abusive, can learn to be sensitive, that men, even after liers or cheaters, want and can become better versions of themselves.
These kind of observations in the people around me in the past few months led me to the wonder if we’re not prolonging or fulfilling the bad side of the prophecies by holding on to the hurt and bad projections. I am trying lately not to make up my mind so easily about people, especially when it comes to the bad sides, and change it fast when it comes to believing in the good sides.
(just some observations triggered by your topic)
I think it is triggered by fear and made/done as a self-protection.
The reason, why people do this. Even if I understand why it’s done (I’ve done it myself after being sexually abused), I do believe it’s a vicious dead end negative circle. And people need to break out of it.
Thanks for mentioning this, Anca.
Be well.
you have the rest of the week to come up with one, dearest PvA :)
Agree Paul, agree.
Many examples Paulo,
The simplest and most recent one just the other week, when I promised my brother and his cousin I’ll go with them to see 2012. After reading impressions of my networks on fb and twitter of how crappy and unworthy the movie is, I lost interest completely in the movie. I still had to go as the designated driver, and kept looking all the time for other movies I can see. I even considered staying on the hallway and reading a book. That’s when my brother told me: “you had a brain last time I checked, why don’t you use it?”
So I realized I was fighting something based on other people’s opinions, preferences, and peer pressure.
I saw 2012 and I happened to love it. For my own reasons, different than anyone else’s: because the story line is almost realistic (I can see this happening to us as a humanity, and I can see humanity surviving) and because it showed human spirit at its best and at its worst without overdoing it.
But life has so many examples of changing our minds…
the same with me for 2012!
But our Heart is our … North Star!!!
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Beautiful image.
I am 26 years old and since 19 I decided to have the best job, a nice car, able to achieve the highest level in college and I have succeeded. However, I have outgrown some of the best years of my life, to achieve all this, stop making real friends, no longer enjoy life, I let go and encounter situations that do not add to my growth as a person. Only by achieving what others told me it was the most important thing to achieve.
How sad, but I have made decisions I made was the first resign from this job and I’m tired from the beginning. On the other hand, has changed his mind about fighting for the love of a person to finish, took six years of my life on it (I have decided to stay friends).
I’ll take a well deserved rest, devote time to my personal growth, taking time to make friends and then start my own business.
Love
There are always people (friends, family) who will try and get you to their way of thinking and make you feel stupid if you don’t agree with them. Follow your instincts and enjoy your own thing. FOr years I was influenced by another person and lost interest in many things – e.g. art, music. Now I am free and can indulge in the most ridiculous fads, trends, fashion if I wish…. Freedom is the greatest institution.
oops,lol
I was saying it’s quite true that cruelty belongs to the weak while gentleness belongs to the strong.
Thank you for inspiring us
Let me say that is a great topic.First of all,I can’t believe people would say that “The Little Prince” is superfical,it’s all you want but superficial!I just love that book very much.
Of course it did happen to me to follow other people opinions.First starting with my mother who clouded my judgment when I was young.I had to leave home to understand that there was a big wide world out there.And learn,fall,stand again and make my own opinions.As we keep learning along the way,we can change our mind a lot too.
At times when we are not well in our life,we are easily influenced by others too.But soon as the strength is back again and that you have found,you know the word I’m going to use..your “Tree Of Life” then,you start to not care about what the crowd thinks of that thing,that book,that movie,that guy..and what they think of you too.You try and you make your own opinion.Cause the power you got now,and that you cheerfully spread around,no one and nothing can’t never take it back anymore.Once you’ve been weak and now you are strong.And it’s so true that cruelty belongs to the we
I have a feeling that this question addresses the day to day, as each of us has to face the likes of others and fight for ours, I remember many cases, some were obvious, some not.
Example, always heard “… drugs are bad son, never try …”
and how right was, very time consuming and gave me nothing good, maybe a good simulation of being … but totally false.
Many times I heard “… this girl is not good for you …” but I never did case, sometimes the relationship is degraded and finish, but I never regretted breaking up for a comment outside my heart and feelings.
Many times I heard “… read Paulo Coelho? that’s sucks (excuse the word) …” but not them who liked the book, to feel free in moments of utter boredom (and more I laugh when they too now read the Alchemist).
In the end I still think that it is sometimes good and sometimes not err, you should always listen, but just to have more points of view, not so that others may live for us.
I remember read the Bible, and while I read it listen to all sorts of things, “… has become ??… Jehovah’s Witness” “… now there is nothing better than reading this garbage …”
In short, none of the comments these successful, i read it just for curiosity, to feed it with something productive and that no means i believe more in God creates or less, I seemed to read a story historically important, like reading Homer for example, but people never tired of commenting and judging, each is as is.
And for all equal, music, friends, hobbies, studies, work, probably even for sex, they would do otherwise, and for me what? everyone has a way to do the things!
Dear Paulo,
Books – Sophie’s World – I was told by some academics that it trivialized 3000 yrs of philosophy & that I would not like it as I have a philosophy degree – but I loved it!
Thomas Hardy – was told his books were boring & tiresome – but loved all his books especially ‘return of the native’.
Films – ‘Gone with the wind’ many say it’s an amazing film – I watched it and got bored! (did love a few dialogues though)
Holidays – was told by many that going to Memphis was going to be a commercial elvis overload and waste of money – but I loved it – thought I was on a pilgrimage and went from liking elvis to loving him!
Education – was told by my teachers don’t do a philosophy & classics degree – it will lead to nowhere – this did confuse me & I almost didn’t do it (especially since all my sisters are lawyers) – but one day before the course began I joined and it has lead me to so many places!
Career – Everyone told me this – Don’t leave a great steady job in one of the worlds biggest company’s for a career in feng shui – well it did make me stop & think for a bit about my decision but I did it & have never looked back!
Love
Priya
Me too :))
Thank you x
Dear Paulo,
Oh yes, I have changed my mind many a times.The example i want to share is my husband’s change of mind though.
My husband likes to read non-fiction and is prejudiced against all ‘Fiction’ categories saying it’s a waste of time and there is no learning. He has changed his mind and is now open to ‘good’ fiction and that happenned because i made him read the Alchemist. Thanks to you Paulo!!
The next book that , which we heard together(book on audio CD) was ‘The Good Earth’ by Pearl S. Buck. It was a work of fiction , a simple story of a peasant’s rise from poverty to riches, nevertheless a piece of Literary Art. So now his mind is open to such gems of literature catgorized under ‘fiction’.
love,
Laxmi
Now when i read ‘fiction’ instead of a condescending look i get a genuine inquiry : ” is that a good book”?
Dear Paulo,
I might give you a lot of examples on this topic. In past (even because of being a bit naive as nature, I don’t know how much I’ve changed now) I used to listen and give importance to others opinion, specially to my closest friends, and that didn’t happen only on books, but even when speaking about people or other persons.
Fortunately, my moto was always : “Everybody deserves a chance” and so I had the chance to see I as wrong.
I had to make that mistake a lot of time till I learned to listen to myself and to never care about others opinion’s (Good or Bad), till I see that myself.
I could give you so many examples…
Oh yes! I remember now On a book than when I still think about it today I feel seek. They were the worst and boring three hundred pages I have ever read in my whole life.
It was a classwork we had a few years ago and we had to work on two different books. We had to divide in two groups an choose to work on one book each. The professor started talking about the two books. She said that one was more difficult than the other but more interesting to read. As I like such things, I like INTERESTING things, I didn’t care about how difficult it was.
At the end I the interesting thing it was my headache, and the difficult part it was to go to the end of that reading.
I felt so stupid for a lot of reasons…
I finally started to learn my lesson in such occasions. I had a lot to lose this way and I learn to trust only on my taste.
I confess I really wanted to blame the professor for what I was going through but I knew I couldn’t. The fault was all mine for making that choice and I couldn’t blame her for her taste, could I?
In Italian there is one expression who says :
“Tutti i gusti sono giusti”
Each time I hear an opinion it comes this saying into my mind and then I tell my self, When I’ll see that I tell you if I agree…
Last weekend I was sick, but I had decided to read as much as I could. Result. I red three books in one day and have problems with my eyes now. I need time to recuperate, because I don’t want to see a single letter…heheheh…Anyway, one book I’ve read it was written by a professor of mine. Some people definitely hated it, others liked it, they found it fun, I had no opinion on it till the moment I saw it in my hands, it had the air of something very interesting.
Finally I found it disappointing. I expected much more from my professor. But I do not hate that book because it was fun too.
You know those kind of experiences has helped me to understand what is the “golden middle” too…
So, Paulo and dear friends of this blog, this is my story ;)
LOVE
Olta
Oh sorry Laxmi this was not a reply to you. It seems that I’m to tired lately.
Hello Paulo!
I try to make a point to question public or popular opinion, or if I hear something negative about someone or something, I question it. I hear it, and if we like it or not, our thoughts do become affected by it, but I always carry that benefit of the doubt, knowing that it is this persons opinion and how limited and narrow it is. It is one opinion, formed through only that persons experiences (if not by rote).
I have come to this through experience, mainly in gossip about other people. Besides that I can’t think of specifics, if I do, I’ll surely write.
Miss you!
Kisses
C.
Dear Paulo,
I Like this week topic. I noticed, for my experience that many times I had a wrong first impression with people.
Younger when I was at school, it happened many time that my best ennemies often have become my best friends, after talking, getting to know each other. Same for some teachers, those who with it started in pain, have often become my best supporters. One of my best friends even hated me and mutually, before we start breaking the ice, and fond out we had a lot in common…
I think it is something you cannot help, having a first impression about things, circumstances, or people (or you must be really good at self control). The real important point to me is to be able to override of this first impression and then to realize it is not always fair.
Some of my best friendships happened because I (or others) changed my mind, and that worth gold to me.
PS: In French, and I think in many other languages too, people say: “only the idiots do not change their minds.”
Sincerely,
Julie-san
Mr. Coelho,
I have been an avid reader of yours since assigned The Alchemist in 10th grade honors English. I am diligently reading each book and find that they all apply to my life in many ways. I have made my way through all but 4 right now, currently reading The Devil and Ms. Prym.
After reading Brida, I immediately recognized that I have been travelling in my Dark Night for nearly 7 years. That is how long I have been disabled from Fibromyalgia, been without a job, had to quit grad school 3 times, lost my life love, lost my fiancee, and recently lost my dear cousin to a hereditary illness.
Two weeks ago, I got an email from a man named San. I immediately thought that this was a sign, perhaps my Santiago. In fact, he turned out to be Indian, but the only person I have met since moving back to rural North Carolina who truly “got” me. He is as well educated as I, has no qualms with my search for religion and G-d, never questions my decision to become vegetarian in a land where pork is as dear as The Bible, and helped me to see that I was not leading my life, but the life into which I had fallen. He encouraged me to take back my life and lead it as I wished. In so few words, he told me that I was still young and that the goals I wanted didn’t necessarily want me.
I had been keeping a free association journal based on your blog, but had put it down for reasons unknown. However, upon meeting him, I immediately took it up and began writing and sketching like I had always meant for it to be. You say that in your trilogy, a week is more than enough time to make up your mind on decisions that will change your life. In this week of meeting him, I have left the world of Veronika and delved into that one of Brida. I set up boundaries in my household so that I would no longer be taken advantage of, decided to care for myself instead of investing my sparse energy in others, chose to seek love in the arms of a stranger, and have realized that I don’t need to explain or apologize for the way I lead my life to others. It is mine alone.
Until very recently, my mind was always changed for me due to forces greater than I. I merely accepted the hand that Fate had dealt me. Now I have chosen to live my life for myself, because no other person can do it for me.
And all of this because I took a step toward meeting a person that I felt was my Santiago. I was hospitalized this week for a hemiplegic migraine after being pulled over by the police on my way to the hospital, and he was the only person who actually cared enough to call me everyday to see how I was doing. I found one person that truly cared for me, not about what I could do for them. My Dark Knight is leading me out of my Dark Night. Changing my mind, the way I view life, the way I live my life, has given me the greatest experience that I have had in years. I am smiling for the first time in three years.
Changing one’s mind is an active verb (being a Latin teacher, I see that immediately). One has to live actively, not passively as I have been doing. I say a path, my sign perhaps, and took it and claimed it as my own. I could not have done this without the inspiration that your books have given to me. Wicca is right, “All roads lead to Rome.” Until recently, I have just been standing beside the road. Now I am a traveller and ready to take in all the sights that lay before me.
Multas gratias,
Melissa
Beautiful, would love to hear more from you. I wish and pray that love grows and fills your life so much as to completely rid you of all pain and help you freely float in the bliss of life.
thank you Melissa for sharing your beautiful story. it inspired me.
also it reminded me of my personal story.
love + blessings
chieko
Yes, I have changed my mind on many a thing in my life so far. I know that it has been important to keep integrity and so this decision-making is based on gaining full knowledge but also considering one’s own feelings.
Usually I have a change of heart after first my emotions have vented themselves fully… then i see reason and compassion more clearly.
I believe in justice and so I rarely like to be condeming without a full hearing. Of course, if judgemental then usually it is because the issue has struck a chord and i have something to say/words of wisdom to lend!
I am stubborn however, and hate to be tricked or misled… which can get in the way of my truth-seeking/justice-loving ethics. I also like to see the moral in something and work through it to a satisfactory conclusion… which means trying not to leave something with a cast-off remark/disregard et al.
examples? oh my… usually about people who i can’t decide if i am going to trust or not these days… but this is due to backlash and having been bullied… i have lost trust in others consequently.
Mostly i go with things open mindedly.. within reason of course. if i can recall some good examples i’ll try and retell them here. ;o)
A quick thought comes to my mind. Before I married, I talked to my spiritual director, actual in confession. He advices me; ‘If you do marry you might end up loosing Jesus’. (He had in earlier conversations been open to me getting married, and helped me with what to look for in a good husband). When I left the confessional, went to the airport (as this priest was located in another city than where I lived), I cried and cried and felt it was a Good Bye more than See you again. Then I felt, but this is what my heart wants, and I felt ready to go ahead on my own. I was scared of loosing Jesus, but I had to do what my heart believed. So, I married my husband, and yes, my religious life has changed quite dramatically, but honestly I do not feel I have lost Christ. Now I serve Him in the poor, in a better way than I did before. Perhaps my spiritual director just wanted to own me, or perhaps I’m the worst sinner on earth. I strongly believe we have to follow our conciseness, even when we Ex Communicate ourselves.
What an idea, loosing Jesus once you marry…I never heard such. Unbelivable. I am happy you did your own way, I am sure you carry in your heart all your love for Jesus, I can feel that through your words.
Hello Heart,
I liked your comment and admire your courage in overcoming your dilemma. Yes, there are times in our life when we have to follow are conscience and dare to be ourselves. I hope one day the Church will put an end to this Ex Communication idea !!! I agree with Alexandra when she says “I am sure you carry in your heart all your love for Jesus.” God bless you.
Love, Theresa
Sure, as first example was reading your novels, a real adventure. They presented in tv as an easy shallow popular reading, so I scorned the books on library.During faculty I changed a lot, maybe not completely.
As for your books to read, the first one got my heart. I found it amazing. “The Alchemist”, than all the others.
We had some severe professors, everybody said we must fear them. I did…like a silly. Oh, the most famous of being witch or menace were really great! I loved them and they like me too, my marks showed that, even their words.
Than, so with a book we have to read, but everybody avoid. It was really not presented in the right way.I escaped reading it lot of time, but again in faculty I had to read it if I desired good results. Here people know that book, “Concert of Music by Bach”…by H.P.Bengescu.
True, some scene are tough, as well some events, but is well written, interesting, theres a wonderful love story, and the fresque of the high society.So, I said to myself, never to listen to others, I have to see myself. The fame was not the right for that book. Is a good one.
Love
Alexandra
As you my dear Alexandra, the Alchemist is one of my favorite novels of all time. My own mother though, she doesn’t care for the Alchemist or the author Coelho at all. She did give me her copy, and encouraged me to read him however. But when I have later expressed my gratefulness to her several times that she gave me the book, she will answer; ‘Oh THAT book, no that I don’t miss at all’ Giggles. Funny how different opinions we have of what we like to read. And by the way, my own mom has no idea about my blogging here, as her understanding is; ‘I don’t want to talk to people I don’t know’ Hehe (she is a very social person and has tons of friends in real life, as she sees it)
Love,
Heart
Pleasing other people by going along with their opinions, eh?
Going along with gossip/prejudice?
Ok.
Here’s one. I have a dog. She’s a boxer by breed. Before picking out the dog (and the ‘right’ breed) I had heard so many bad and negative stories about boxers, how angry and furious and harmful dogs they are. But I was really interested of this breed for many reasons. I also heard a horrifying myth about them having the jaw-cramp: so when they would bite You, the jaws will be closed for a long time because of the anatomical specification, that they cannot open them – because of the cramp. Of course this myth is not true – in fact seen as cramp, when a boxer holds something in their mouth and does not let go, it is because they do not want to let go. There exsists no cramp. Anyway over all view of this breed could been described by one word – vicious. The sad part is that most of these views are based on the movies (where Dobermanns, Rotweilers and Boxers are used in roles of ‘guard dogs’ and vicious dogs etc.), not on personal experience. The truth is that You can teach even a cute minituar poodle or a labrador retriever (who are considered to be lovely-friendly dogs) to be vicious. The breed has no importance in this. But the upbringing does. Right now I have at my home a 7 year old boxer with an unbelievable personality who has just once in her lifetime bitten another dog in self-protection, because she was attacked by another.
But for some years I was pondering, if these stories were really true of that vicious nature of those animals, because the story had one side to them, but when I saw the dogs and their owners on the streets and parks, the view was totally different.
~*~*~*~
There have been many times when someone has given me an negative opinion about some famous person, and in their words degraded them, but I have been stupid enough to blindly go along with the critique. I cannot remember any certain example to give, but I’m sure there have been many. But these days I know better.
~*~*~*~
http://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lennart_Meri
Some years ago there was an Estonian president since 1992-2001 – Mr. Lennart Meri. (His last name Meri means Sea in english) He was a great president, actually, he was a true inspiration and a very charismatic person, a great diplomat and did well at his job. I was about 10-11 years old and my childhood (best) friend said that Lennart Meri looks like a camel. The way it was said, I sensed a negativity about it, as trying to make someone look like a fool. And actually there was a joke about it, that one charicaturist drew him in similar of a camel. He, personally (Mr. Meri) took it very well and got the joke, and he even saw the resemblance himself and did not deny it. But to me it left a bad taste in the mouth, in the way that it was said by my friend (and to her, the same thing was said by her mother). The way they said it was as if Meri was some ‘dumb old man’. At least I got it this way, and for some years I had prejudice about him. However I understand, what he really was, all jokes aside. He was a great person.
~*~*~*~
I went to one school since 1st grade until 10th grade. At certain point I became a bad student, I had lousy/average grades in certain subjects. We all have stuff going on in our lives that affect our ability to concentrate and to act to our potential and at times these abilities are paralysed for a while. Well, even when I started to get out of the dark pit, after some years of being in the role, I was still considered a ‘bad student’, even when my work could be considered as better. But because the teachers were used to me having bad grades they did not notice the improvement. They were used to giving me the grades they did. The comfort zone. Not all teachers are that way, but we have to be careful not to fall in the comfort zone and doing things automatically, as robots.
The irony was, I changed schools and did my last grades, the 11th and 12th in another school, and there I got rather great grades. This story is just meant as an example and a warning not to get caught in the comfort zone in the things that we are doing. I am not trying to build my ego.
All be well.
Dear Liina,
In my opinion, the two first phrases on your comment give the whole idea of it.
Love
Olta
Caro Paulo,
Li vários de seus livros, mas não todos.
Me identifiquei com uns, gostei de alguns e não gostei de outros, mas acho que não poderia falar nada disso sem que os tivesse lido.
Também pude observar esse fenômeno do ódio inexplicável ao comentá-los com amigos e colegas. Pessoas com mestrado e de notória cultura recusam-se a ler, mas não se opõe a falar mal. E juro que ainda não o compreendo.
Acho esse assunto excelente e deveria ser mais discutido já que esse fenômeno acontece não somente quando relacionado ao Paulo Coelho.
I use to form opinions about people without getting to know them. I looked at them and fixed a stereotype, but I realized, once you take the time to listen to someone, you realize everyone has a story..and I think at the root of it all, everyone has a good story.
Good one, Thao.
I am always told that I am extremely opinionated, but strangely I have found myself far more adjusting and adaptable then so called milder people. I do tell my opinion, being quite a loud mouth, I hardly believe others opinion unless and until I have a direct experience, for most of the things in life, but I have seen people being very prejudiced and most of the time it passes down from parents to child or maybe we can say the environment we grow up in. I consider myself quite content but have seen my close people having many many no..s and very few yes..and still being discontent. May be it is a survival instinct, not knowing the unknown thus staying in the ghetto of comfort zones.But to talk about myself, I donot like to be prejudiced, but like to retain my likes and dislikes and do not try to influence others ever.Neither do I allow anyone else to make the decisions for me in conscious or subconscious level.My mother influenced my early days but I remember feeling free from very early childhood. I guess I should be thankful to my parents though I do not see them allowing themselves the same freedom or carefreeness. Thanks Paulo, You have allowed me to delve into a deeper contemplation. I am in a paradox of simplicity and complexity at the same time. I guess I will think more on this subject and ease my soul.
Hello!
It has often happened to me to follow other ideas, feeling hate towards something just because I hadn’t the habit to listen to what I felt inside me. The result was that I had frequent problems about my personality, I mean I didn’t understand whom I was. It’s true, sometimes I can’t express myself when I hear sentences like :”that movie is banal” while on the contrary I had appreciated it a lot. I realized that it happened because I wasn’t able to express the reason why I thought and felt differently, so I started to study myself and reading more which I find of great help. Things are getting better now!
Excelente tópico, caro Paulo.
Em primeiro lugar a Bíblia. Não sou religioso, mas acho-a linda demais. Fascinante. Sempre cresci ouvindo de meus amigos que a Bíblia era “careta” demais, mas há alguns anos decidi lê-la e me apaixonei.
“O Alquimista” também é outro exemplo, apesar de muita gente ter falado mal, como mencionei. Li e adorei.
“O Pequeno Príncipe”, eterno livro das misses, também é um livro que me marcou muito.
O problema é essencialmente cognitivo. Alguns livros que amamos simplesmente não fazem sentido pra certas pessoas. A sensibilidade e a espiritualidade do ser humano apresentam um espectro muito amplo.
Ontem li um jornalista afirmar que a pior música dos Beatles seria “Let It Be”, pois ela faria apologia ao comodismo, ao “deixe-estar”. Mas a aceitação do mundo é justamente um ponto essencial de várias religiões como Taoísmo e Budismo, há inclusive passagens bíblicas a esse respeito. Considero a música linda.
Minha reação ao jornalista foi simplesmente “que pena, ele não entendeu o sentido da música. Aceitar é se libertar”.
Por isso é importante conhecer as coisas. Tomar conhecimento próprio. E apenas depois fazer o juízo de valor.
Com certeza Paulo, e um desses era você, sempre ouvi – das pessoas erradas – que seus livros não tinham conteúdo, que eram confusos e etc., mas fui atrás para ver o que era na verdade o que escrevia, foi quando percebi que as pessoas não entendiam as mensagem passada, mas eu entendi e vi como é relevante seu trabalho. Parabéns.
Abraços.
Dear Paulo,
I have had this experience with people I’ve met who actually became close friends later on. I can think of three people who annoyed me when I first met them in a social situation with other people and that annoyance pushed me to investigate what about them I didn’t like. I always like to kill my judgments as soon as I notice them. In all three cases we became friends, close friends. The first impression lived on and it was a true assessment, but I did not let it get in the way of friendship. Interestingly, I am not close to these three people anymore. I went beyond judgment, yet my first impression/intuition was correct. I have no regrets and I’ll probably still try to push my judgments aside.
Thanks,
Sherry
Dear Paulo,
Well, my post about ‘why you hate paulo’ was not ‘accepted’ so, there was no opinion on it, if I hate or like something or somebody or some objects.
- Many of the times we are caught up in this situation where we listen to others and accept it as it is. This is called “WOM”(Word-of-Mouth) Which basically means that the message is spread among family and friends and we tend to believe them most of the times.
-It does not matter even if we believe others opinion we change our mind simply because, it is our insights about “things” which matter not others.
-I read couple of books by First, The First and Last Freedom(Krishnamurti) and what I heard before reading the book was like, “it is total crap” and later when I flipped through the pages, I had to change my opinion about the book. “It was awesome”
-Similarly many of the times we believe in what others people say, but what matters most is what we feel and think about something.
**************************************
Creation
**************************************
Yes, I have to listen to others
But I cannot judge object of creation
by their grade
what I feel about something
matters to me
great
I cannot satisfy all human soul
but I know to satisfy me own
Yes, I have to listen to others
but, I am no judge of any creation
creation, itself is beautiful
even though, it is perceived differently
it is utterly beautiful
people will change their mind
depending upon their times
but creation will shine
in darkest of times
also like crystal in oceans
which sublimes
*********************************
God bless you all !
moments when i changed my opinion after “that” happened – two years ago i changed my employer. it took me about half a year of interviews in different companies till i decided to make the final step-to give a notice. some told me “don’t be stupid, you like your job (i did indeed), even if it’s not very well paid don’t change it because you have bank credit to pay”, others said “go, take a risk and try it can only be better”. and the others were right. better salary, closer to home, better conditions. and first of all the way they treated me after i gave the notice. i was shocked because i didn’t even think it’d look that way.
never mind now but at leat i know it’s worth to take a risk if you want something better in your life. the lesson was worth passing through it if you know what i mean.
i have to admit at the start the only reason i wanted to change my job was financial one. after my resignation i was called and had a talk with my ex-boss. that made me change my mind about leaving company.it made me more sure it was right choice.
just small add to avoid accusing for off-topic ;)
Olá, Sr. Paulo.
Sou escritor e cartunista e estou finalizando um livreto com tirinhas dos meus personagens chamados Os Passarinhos. Um deles é escritor e inveja de um personagem que batizei de… Paulo, o Coelho.
O livreto é curto, feito por uma editora pequena e com partes de recursos do meu bolso e será dividido por temas de tirinhas, e tem uma sequência só do personagem coelho/escritor. Cada seção terá uma declaração de jornalistas dos sites de quadrinhos que acompanham os personagens pelo blog.
Gostaria que pudesse olhar a tirinha referente ao personagem no meu blog http://ospassarinhos.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/apresentando-paulo-o-coelho/ seria uma imensa honra se pudesse colocar uma pequena declaração sobre as tirinhas na parte dele. Coisa pequena, do tamanho de um “twitt”.
Se quiser ler outras tirinhas sobre o personagem, é só me dar um e-mail de contato que eu as mando.
Atenciosamente,
Estevão Ribeiro
ah ah muito bem !
“si, bom sense!”
Obrigada
:)
Paulo,
I like this question, mainly because you ask us to search inside us for answers to questions that may have long been forgotten! Your questions make me stop and think and look back to the past.
I have had many times where I have gone against the popular decision. I learnt many years ago that it is not possible that everyone will agree. There will always be people who dislike us or disagree with us, so rather than always trying to please other people, live the life that we believe and that we feel is the right. Some will like it, some will not. But at least we have a chance of finding happiness within if we are true to ourselves.
People in generally dislike for many reasons and more often it is due to some area of jealously for the other person.
It is like the quote by Abraham Lincoln ‘You can please some of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.’
Much Love
Alex
x
dear Alex
as you are one of the first here (if not the first) part of my question is asking you to give examples
love
The main prejudice I struggled against was deciding to go through with a divorce. I had many reasons that I did not want that to happen and most people also had their opinions on it.
It was a difficult decision to make and I was very unsure of how I would feel after it, but once it was made it turned my life around and I became a stronger person because of it and from then on I cared less for what people thought. My life has been happier from that moment onward.
In a way I understand you, I remember the time my life partener left me… I thought I need him so much, cant do alone. I still think I need somebody near me, but, after bit sorrow( maybe more than bit), I tried to go on my way, my real way, I started to have satisfactions, and honestly now I am sure if he would not leave me, I would be not myself, not grew.
Wish you all the best, thanks for sharing
Alexandra
thank you Annie – love Priya xx
Thank you dear Alexandra! I think what he meant was that if one marry a person from another denomination, who happens to have been divorced for 10 years, who has a different faith, you run the risk of looking a way of life, many devoted people appreciate. In a way I have lost Jesus in the Sacramental encounters, through Communion, but you are very right, the love in our hearts has nothing to do with a certain Religion. Anyway, thanks again for your sincere support of me. It feels good :)
Love & admiration,
Heart
Thank you for bringing it back to me.
I don’t usually like musicals, or that is what I thought, but I completely changed my mind when I saw Mamma mia for the first time.
I simply loved it and couln’t help but seeing it over and over.
Love
You are my HERO, Thelma!!! Big Thelma! *****
THIS is the TRUE LOVE, Paulo!
Man must have the COURAGE to be SINCERLY!!!
Without the PASSION, the TRUE LOVE don’t exist!
The FALSE LOVE is the love WITHOUT PASSION!
It’s time to change YOUR mind!!! :-D
Hi Annie,
I liked reading your post! You are on a journey of discovery! I like your spirit of not letting anyone put you down! You go for it, and good luck with the music. Never give up on your dreams.
Love, Theresa
Love you sis, and giggles how you dare to tell it as it is. Sounds like my mother! And so many mother – daughter relationships are like this. SAD. What is great, great, great is you continue even when it feels like you have to wait till Hell freezes! I want to ‘adopt’ you to the sunshine in Arizona so much, to melt this freezing surrounding in your life…soon sis…soon…till then, yr doing f a n t a s t i c.
Annie,
could not help but remember that story from kahlil gibran where he narrates an innicence where a mon and a daughter sleepwalk and also sleep talk for a while before waking up.
u will become whatever u wish to, but why does it have to be a rection always, trying to do teh opposit of what they are telling u. clean the slate, change your mind, and tehn see what gives u pleasure, no not that kind “Ok so u say i cannot do it, i will prove u wrong”
heart mother daughter relationships are like that, because they are so close, annie may adpot u as her mother but that does not mean she will leave her present mother , she will have two moms, one to spoil her ( u ) and one to bug her !
love
aditya
Well, I started looking for information on Paulo once I decided the theme of my thesis, for faculty of letters graduation. I had not my own pc, and searched things at my fathers home, he had pc. He laughed on me, even insulting me, and said Paulo Coelho will never reply, so on. Well, he did, and I received picture of hime soon. Than father noticed I write on blog, and Facebook. He could not read my post, for he dont understand English. Now, he is not aware of the translator button, hope the things stay that way.
Love
Alexandra
Thanks for your warm reply dear Theresa. I am sure the Church will come around soon, it’s just fighting for those great, great family values, that less and less people fit into. I do LOVE Jesus Christ in my heart, and talk to Him all the time :)
Love & Admiration.
God Bless!!
Hehe…yeah…I don’t want my mother in here either, lmao.
No Swannie, I could not wait until … tomorrow!!
But we live in the middle of Limassol! I just took my car and …
I have just returned had a look and now I am checking my emails! You asked me the other day, dear Paulo Coelho, how I manage to be …. in every site all the time?? MAGIC!!!
I am just …. sitting all day here .. This is the reason my … Mozart was so bad!! No practice for two years now!1 But I feel happy being here in your Blog with all these wonderful people and you. I feel … fulfilled! God bless you all, my beautiful Warriors of the LIGTH.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Yes Marta Adriana, the Mamma mia is so .. optimistic and Meryl Streep wonderful. It is really a Hymn to love and life.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Totally agree with you: ” a hymn to love and life”.
And this song “If you change your mind” is one of my favorites from the movie. Specially the part that reads ” if you’re all alone when the pretty birds have flown, honey I’m still free take a chance on me…”
Wow, it’s true, isn’t it,
I didn’t know about it,
I checked it at google, comming to BROADWAY DECEMBER 2009, the sequel
‘Phantom: Love Never Dies’
what a ‘coincidence’!!!
The G H O S T of the opera! I see… :)
Be well.
I knew about carrots but I didn’t knew about blueberries.
Thank you Alexandra.
Love
Olta
Well dear Annie, they were around 200 pages each. It usually takes me 4 hours to read one book of about 200 pages.
Since I was sick I had nothing to do more than lying to bed, I could read, I hate spending my time on doing nothing. But the real reason it was that I like those books and I wanted to read them as soon as possible. No mater what that meant.
You see I can’t help it. Where there is something I want like that I do not care anymore what part of me that might cost me. hehheheheheh
Thank you Annie!
Love
Olta
Thanks Den Rod. You made me smile.
I was feeling weak this evening, was afraid that I was coming down with a flu (I haven’t been sick or felt weakness of such for a long time now) and had a cup of tea with ginger and lemon, and now I feel like an oiled working mechanism again. And I had an old friend wishing me well, and also You, the familiar eye (to which resemblance I saw on TV today, was funny).
Sometimes the things we do and the messages we’re sent cooperate and as soon as we felt ill we will be better again.
How about if we were able to construct our whole life by starting to think/feel more positively? Hey? Well, it’s always there. We just have to find it.
Love,
L.
Yes, Linna, sure!!!
Thank you, dear Annie, for your kind words.
When they said “God won’t love you anymore.” I was really shocked, but at that moment I understood their motives in saying so.
I think it just goes to show, how far people will go, when they want something ! It made me more determined than ever !
Love and blessings,
Theresa
Swannie, you know that mothers are also best friends!
LOVE, Mamma Thelma xxx
Anna my sweetheart; Anna my love;
I can not speak volumes tonight, I can not speak love!
Hurt from relationships hurt, from love;
I cannot do anything without your love!
(Annie, if you wish it this poem is not about you!)
(I just wrote it!)
Your … objection accepted!!! Swannie.
LOVE cannot be .. measured but we can .. add more dimensions, colours and reflections to it!! To make it .. richer.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
i totally agree with you paulo coelho because we do not think as we need to think but we think with some perceptions and some vague images about the things .i started to try to see the things with an impartial frame of mind when i was in the first year of collage .most of time we see things with a jaundiced eye and that is the apple of discord.
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