As a child, we all have dreams, aspirations, unimaginable feats we’re unrealistically trying to achieve.
Why is it that when we’re young, we’re so imaginative and willing to believe?
Is it because we are still so innocent?
What happens between childhood and adulthood that makes us all forget who we really are?
Maybe it’s this ideology that we’ve all taken up as a coping mechanism.
Don’t expect much and you won’t be disappointed. Maybe it’s the realities of life that makes us push aside what we really want just to get by.
That’s the process that I find most unfortunate of all processes in life. There’s this ever encompassing idea that dreams can be too big for one individual to handle.
We’d rather give up and settle than run that extra mile.
We’re distracted by things we think we need and when we are unable to grasp it, our world goes awry.
Everything is wrong, but nothing is really wrong.
The difference between childhood and adulthood is the ability to put your dreams into actions.
The child inside you believes..while the adult inside you acts.
If it’s just one life that we have now..it’s everything in between that makes it a great ending.
{ 68 comments… read them below or add one }
Yesterday, after becoming disappointed and disillusioned at having every goal for my summer fall to pieces, I wrote on my goals, “Drop all expectations”. I figured if I expected nothing from life, I would never have to deal with any heartache, heartbreak, or feelings of loss. Who was I to only expect good things from life?
Today is a better day and what shocked me is that this is my first time reading this blog. But because of the depth of despair that I entered yesterday, I can honestly say that now, I believe in fighting. I’ll be crossing the previous goal off my list.
I love this, and all the varied responses. I’m only 28 but it has taken me 5 years to realize that I don’t have to conform to society or family, that “getting a job” is no longer good enough. I have seen that I need to find my career now, my life path, and I’ve really been returning to my childhood dream lately. I always wanted to be an archaeologist, and I majored in anthropology in school. After graduation, however, I was burnt out, so I didn’t go on to grad school. Then life threw major stones in my way and my path completely changed. I lost my mother. That messed with me for a long time, for she raised me and was my rock growing up. I let my strong, dreamer self get weighed down with depression and fear of failure and I almost destroyed myself. I ended up moving to get closer to my Dad and family. I also found my home with G-d in the People of Israel. What a wonderful support being in the relationship I need with G-d is! How great is the world and universe with such spirituality, hope, and faith! I am still sad a lot, and I still fear failure, but I know where my heart is and what my passions are. The tough economy has made me really sit down and think what I can do in/for this world. I have really been whittling myself down to my core and I can say this: my childhood dreams are still alive, just modified a bit. I found other passions that I hope to marry with my love of people and for anthropology. I have begun to tap into that strong inner strength residing within. It’s not easy as an adult, especially with so many trying to tell you how to be, how to feel, and what to want. My faith gives me courage and grounding to stand up for myself, to say what I want, what I am, what I feel. And I can say, with pride and a sense of understanding, that (for now, simply) I am: a social scientist, writer, Jew.
Acredito nos sonhos que eu quero realizar. Aqueles nos quais eu só quero idealizar, guardo num arquivo secreto e quem sabe algum tempo depois, ele não venha fazer parte também da minha realidade. Sonhos são presentes divinos,principalmente aqueles que desejamos acordados!!
Let us all stay dreamers of impossible dreams for ever!
Caro Paulo,
il mio grande sogno me lo hai ispirato Tu. Mi è nato dentro leggendo i tuoi libri e poi ho avuto tanta voglia di scrivere.
Ho già scritto due romanzi: nel primo Tu, Paulo, sei citato, sei in parte protagonista.
Ho trovato una casa Editrice che è disposta a pubblicarlo ma HO BISOGNO DELLA LIBERATORIA DA PARTE TUA A PUBBLICARE IL MIO LIBRO. HO BISOGNO DI SAPERE SE TU SEI DACCORDO CON QUELLO CHE HO SCRITTO.
SENZA IL TUO CONSENSO NON POSSO PUBBLICARE NULLA.
PER FAVORE, POTRESTI METTERTI IN CONTATTO CON IL TUO EDITORE ITALIANO ( E. S.)ALLA QUALE MI SONO RIVOLTA?
TE LO CHIEDO COL CUORE. GRAZIE INFINITE.
Yes …. the challenge is to have the child inside still when you are an adult … to believe in your dreams :-)
I have become an adult now (I hope *LOL*), but the child inside will never go away … the child in me is the one that makes me keep on going when everything seems to be against me. Then I hear a voice inside speaking to me :-)
Love Jessica
hey!no no, wait a moment. stop!
who said that aldults can’t belive?who said that dreams are something limited to childhood? who dare?:)
i mean, i know that big part of the examples we have today, everywhere we look, are bad examples but that’s not a reson to follow them…no way!
dreams…what a wonderfull word…really!there’s a lot of people out there that are dreaming, and some others that are living their dreams…
you know what?they are the heros we need to follow… when i was a child i wanted to became a hero, that was my dream…now i think that a hero is someone who never forgot his dream, someone who has the strenght to hold on until the end…
i’m realising part of my dreams…so, i think i’m on the right way to become what was, maybe, just a stupid childhood’s dream. ;)
I am 19 years old, I don’t know I what I want in life,
I am now tossing between my studies and fiction writing (which isnt going anywhere close to perfect, with bad grammar and my reduced sense of vocabulary), and my dancing lessons (which I miss more than I attend). As a kid I used to dream about so many things being a musician, a doctor, a writer, a painter, a dancer, a singer, Ofcourse I wasnt as talented as I imagined myself to be, I had to think of a logical answer to ‘ what do you want to be when you grow up?’ and I answered with ” I want to be a teacher”
And thus is the saga of continuing my studies till I become a teacher , or not,
I might end up in a silly job, I just want to do something, and the problem is, I dont have a chalked out dream to reach as such, Its as if a defense mechanism to say that I have a dream, when I actually dont. I dreamed of a lover, that too in vain, adulthood might be about actions , well My life is a No action documentary , with no sound except a sad song or two , playing just to please the very few people who witness it :P
So yeah, being an adult hasnt pretty much changed my life at all, all I now know is that I am getting olderr,
Andd If it’s just one life that we have now..it’s everything in between that makes it a great ending.
The in between part is what there is now, I hope it makes a good ending :)
I used to be childish in that way. I enjoyed the great mysteries of life much more. But something happened along my journey that I don’t even know who I am anymore. I put my belief and trusted someone with my dreams and I got myself into a big mess. I don’t believe anyone anymore, because while God has given us the ability to dream, humans have found a way to make profit and amusement out of the faith dreamers have. I am only 22 and I feel like it may be too late. I feel life has become a ruthless industry and I can’t fix it. How can I go back to being a kid again, because while that won’t get me out of the mess I’m in, it can give me hope and strength to go on and enjoy the pain.
I still dream, daydream, play and laugh as unabashedly as a child (I’m 27 years old). In spite of all the fear I’ve experienced in life when challenges have threatened my dreams, or the lives/dreams of my loved ones, I still hold on to the faith and knowledge that God’s divine hand is the ever present tool that’s guiding my journey. I hear HIS love and feel HIS presence in the words of children and scholars alike. HE’s ever present in all the beautiful details that surround me daily, and it’s almost impossible not to wake up and feel grateful most days for the ability to find HIM equally in tears of joy and tears of sorrow that I’ve shed. So when I wake up, even on those days when I’ve fallen asleep the night before with a heavy heart or a worried mind, I still feel like it’s my time to soar — another opportunity to show HIM, the world and myself — that I can reach for the skies once again. And should I fall short, I’m secure in the knowledge that HIS love and the love of others he’s placed in my life will cushion my landing. :)
If it’s just one life that we have now..it’s everything in between that makes it a great ending.
http://www.poemhunter.com/i/ebooks/pdf/giorgos_seferis_2006_3.pdf
Giorgos Seferis, the poet and lyrics of DENIAL.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6fC3UQVICg
A beautiful transcription of Mikis Theodorakis ‘DENIAL’=¨Αρνηση by our new friend Greek composer, arranger, pianist Andreas Boutsikakis.
‘We have taken the wrong .. path and have changed LIFE’
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
I think when we grow up, we start feeling contended with what we have/get and find reasons(read excuses) for things that we cant reach upto. People who pursue the aspirations and listen to what their heart says live more child-like and they look and feel young forever. I wish i could be like that. There is no point in growing up if you cant be childish at times. Thanks for the thought provoking post.
I hate to talk about it because I do not want to seem like a Mr. Know it All, but for the third time in the week I will allow myself to (know it all!).
Technically speaking there is an answer to this question. From the age of zero up to and after puberty and a little into later teens children’s brainwaves run slower than adults.
Delta, Theta, Alpha and Beta are the most common brainwave patterns of healthy humans.
From the top down – Beta is a state of alertness we all experience when we are awake, active and/or working on something. Alpha is a state of light Hypnosis, Theta is a deeper state of Hypnosis required for therapy & suggestion – and serious medical operations (John Elliotson), Delta is the deepest state of Hypnosis known also as somnambulism.
Hypnosis as a tool of therapy allows the Hypnotist to utilise the imagination to help the subconscious transform. The imagination is all that matters, when the will and the imagination come into conflict the imagination will always win either good or bad – cause and effect leading to psychosomatic disorders and mental dis-ease. Children are in a state of hypnosis 24/7 and that is why their imaginations are wild, vast and infinite and their brains have to work like this to learn and develop here on Earth. That is why you can tell a child anything and they will believe you, Santa, Boogie Man etc…
As we get older we are pushed into the Beta. This probably has many reasons, as primates after being a ‘child’ and learning everything, early man had to hunt, protect the village, reproduce or whatever. They would not be able to do this in a state of relaxation. That’s a very quick run down and all from memory :)
Thank you, dearest Kealan.. A very good summary of a difficult theme about our BRAIN, the instrument of THINKING.
I think that we all move from Beta, to Alpha and Theta ( the names of the letters of the Greek alphabet: Αlpha = Αλφα = Α, Beta = Βήτα = Β, Theta = Θήτα = Θ and Delta = Δέλτα = Δ), unconsciously, depending on the situations we have to face.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Thanks for bringing in the analytical psych side, Kea. We need all sides to see clearly.
((((LOVE))))
kealan.
thanks. very informative.
helps really to clarify things.
glad you wrote it.
we keep our dreams. they just get hidden. under the surface. I remember well, how I was longing for becoming an adult. finally, wearing high heals, being able to make my own decisions, being independent, etc.
then there is the phase of “complying with society”, adjusting to its norms, “building up a carrier”.
what I today realize, I selected out of the big pot of dreams those that best fit to this phase. I was entertained … no doubt.
there have been some very old, basic dreams. and to those, I am currently coming back with all what I have learned in between. the core of the dreams is still the same. however, my seriousness & capabilities are different. better.
as thelma said below. there have always been those people who just put their leg into my path to trip me. I am prepared for this. I am smarter now.
whether I will reach my goal as I imagine it right now, or whether the final one will deviate from it. I do not think about it. but I just know, when I go and do some work in my dream, there it is. the old feeling that I remember so well from my childhood. it always feels so right to be there & do my work.
Dearest, beautiful Rosemarie!!
“…as thelma said below. there have always been those people who just put their leg into my path to trip me. I am prepared for this. I am smarter now.”
Of course we are … smarter NOW!!! But in the meantime from these EVIL acts of others our whole life and path have … twisted to a different one. We have, of course, used all our might, will, gifts and talents to SERVE our new path, maybe as successful or even more, but still …
A Greek quote says: ‘Στερνή μου γνώση να σ’ είχα πρώτη’ = my last, late knowledge, I wish I had it first!
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
So true, Katie,
((((LOVE))))
Lainee
I loved that you used the word aspiration rather than desire.
Funny thing is I don’t remember my childhood dreams. I don’t remember what I aspired to be. Just wanted to get far away from the chaos.
This is stirring me so deeply…Once again, Thank you!
I think we are a living reflection of all we have been, and all is visible when viewed from the right angle. The only difference between the image of all we are right now and all that we might be in the future is having the right mirror to capture it.
Be both, the child that dreams and the adult that acts!
How about encouraging this child within you by saying, “There isn’t anything you can’t do precious little one” and see how your heart swells, your face smiles and your enthusiasm bubbles! See how you march ahead without the rocks of doubt in your path, rising to a new level, helping all around you and helping yourself!
Love
Acción, esa es la palabra que hace la diferencia entre niños y adultos, para los niños es mucho mas sencillo experimentar “Aquí y ahora”, los adultos conforme crecemos, reprimimos sentimientos, simplemente por imitación, comenzamos a imitar nuestro entorno, iniciando por la familia, la diferencia entre aquellos que se arriesgan por conquistar sus sueños es que rompen con estas creencias, ya que son solo eso, creencias…
Dearest Paulo and friends,
I think that many people see dreams as children do, this wonderful magical reality and cannot associate with it in the real world. I think people grow up and see their dreams as not something they can achieve because they don’t believe it is possible or they don’t want to accept failures, and continue to fight for what they desire. People should realise that there is more than one way to achieve a goal, and working towards it, at any point in their life will it make a substantial difference because it brings them joy. I think it’s important to always ask yourself, are you happy in your life, and what would make you happy. I think people change as grow and many dreams do too, but that is still perfectly fine if they are happy, if they are doing things they love and if they find themselves this way. I am someone who will fight for my dreams. I’m someone who will work constantly to realise them, even though I know it will take me years to achieve, but I do it, only because the pure act, makes me happy, its something I love and that’s how it should be. I think it is very important to believe in yourself, very important to be content inside as a child is, but it is also important to act, create and persist as adult can do.
Thank you for being
Yajna
Carpe diem :-)
Es muy cierto, definitivamente perdemos la motivación de lograr nuestros sueños. Y aunque la tuviéramos, siempre hay personas alrededor que nos desmotivan con comentarios para hacernos creer que es imposible.
Así es. ¿Dónde más que la diversión? No hay nada como una buena dosis de alegría malsana. Con nada se puede molestar a los demás tanto como por el éxito. Cuanto mayor sea el éxito, mayor es el resentimiento y la envidia. Eso por sí solo vale la pena todo el esfuerzo. :-))))) Admito que esto es un defecto de carácter que se forma maliciosa. Pero nadie es perfecto. :-)
Les deseo una buena noche
From a brush with the after life, (told earlier in Paulo’s Blog) I was able to realize that when we die, we do not automatically change into a glorious angel. We arrive in the hereafter, we are in a kind of shock because, even though we feel a loving presence around us helping us to not fear, we still retain the desire to be in our bodies and it takes some time to be reoriented to spirit life. Those, while treading on this world, who learn and instill within themselves the beautiful power of a soul that is filled with love, arrive on the other side of the veil glowing with a brilliant essence, thus being able to make the transition much easier. Yes, we will miss the sun warming the flesh on our bodies, the feel of ice on the tongue, the taste of our favorite foods, the smell of a flower filled meadow; but, we can cope much easier than those who have allowed the negative pressures, thoughts and actions of this world to dominate their being. These darker souls have an uphill battle ahead of them as they get over the craving for their addictions, the habit of automatically blaming others for their faults, etc.
Our Higher Power placed every single one of us here on this particular world and instilled within each and every one of us from the minute we were born the desire to continue loving unconditionally as we were doing before we arrived. We WERE before this world and will continue. That is why the greater majority of us are drawn to babies who radiate with the strong power of love. They just arrived here from the loving presence of God/Goddess or as some say, “the Cosmic Universe.” ;-) Check out this video and see how your love expands just by experiencing the joy of a new baby experiencing the wonderful wonders of this world.
Laughing Baby Ripping Paper http://www.youtube.com
It has been said that we are given certain talents before we arrive here on this world so that we can help ALL survive and thrive in a loving way. I so believe that this is a truth. It is so very important to nurture and develop within us that which we dream of becoming or doing. If it gives us joy and gets us “Jazzed Up” we should go for it. What would our societies be like if everyone was able to go after their dream and help others to do the same? Some would say that we would have a chaotic mess. Wrong. I did an experiment with my classes of 15 and 16 year-old students this last fall. I have four language arts classes. One of the requirements is to write a research paper. The thought of doing a research paper, for the most part, does not go over well with a class of teens; however, thanks to beautiful, Paulo Coelho, and his books, “The Alchemist” and “Veronika Decides to Die,” I was able to get the students to see that if they researched what they, deeply inside, wanted to do with their lives and not what parents, or friends, or society pushes them to do, that the research and writing would be invigorating for their souls and they would discover their true calling. As we started the research in the library, I went around the room and wrote down what each child dreamed of BEING. It was so amazing. The careers were lovingly all over the map; in fact, each group/class automatically had the careers to make a society function very well and happily because people in the jobs would love what they were doing. We had bankers, lawyers, chefs, teachers, engineers, doctors, researchers, stock brokers, nurses, mechanics, writers, artists, etc. The research papers practically wrote themselves and the anxiety that is usually felt by teens during this assignment was gone. It was replaced with love. I was blown over at how easy this would be for our world if we (MAN) would get out of the decisions of others and especially our own children. Controlling someone or a society is definitely not the answer.
So why are you sitting there reading this. Go be what you were meant to be.
May ((((LOVE)))) and warm, brilliant ***blue light*** surround you,
Lainee
I have one more line to read and then I will get up to make a cup of tea :)
This line does make a person want to get up though. Your students are lucky!!
Maybe when I was learning I was a child.
The day I stop learning I grown up maybe.
I don’t know what is actual maturity or adulthood
it’s something “You can crack joke with something that once badly broke your heart.”
A great story.
The famous German politician Helmut Schmidt has brought to the point.
“Anyone who has visions should go to the doctor.”
A very adult attitude. Adults have dreams, but they submit their dreams to the necessities of everyday life. Or politician, so-called political necessity. But the dream does not end it changes only. It is a curse. Tomorrow is another day, a beautiful sentence. No one has time for the really important things. Why should they? Everything is great. The reality in this world is a dream. A nightmare. That is why many people have no chance her real dream to dream. And certainly not the people who live in the so-called third world. The struggle for survival seems to prevent the dream. Or not? No one fights against this nightmare. All are adapted, lazy and cowardly. All is of course an exaggeration, but a large majority of people is so. They are like patients in a coma. And that’s what makes us different from children. We can distinguish between a dream and nightmare. And fight. I think our planet is worth it. And we will win. This is my dream.
Thank You :) Love Avantika
Reading this post and answers again, after two years, I can see clearly and I am not scared to say it any more, that the child inside me believes, dreams and is NOT afraid to act.
‘The child inside you believes..while the adult inside you acts’.
I have come to the conclusion, due to things that have happened to all my life, and I feel it now even stronger, that it is other people’s EVIL words, eyes, jealousy and stabbing in the back, that have destroyed my most sacred, beautiful dreams. In every ‘crucial’ moment of my life, the moment that everything seemed at an easy ‘reach’ something happened and disaster came.
I was a child and could not ACT and fight BACK! I was hurt but could not utter a word, a complain.. Only recently and after a long.. search and great help from Him, my Angel, the Saints and your books, dearest Paulo Coelho I realized that we may be ONE but what is hidden in our HEART, the forces that drive us to seek for joy, love and happiness are our SECRET, INNER LIFE. Our Way, our Dream is different for each one of us, but nothing can stop others ‘comparing’ and sending their poisonous arrows against us. Only prayer and by .. forgiving them can stop the EVIL circles.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Dear Thelma,
I’m very glad that you have come such a long way. In many instances in life we are exposed to inhumane behaviour. Sometimes we get hurt very badly by these acts and lose faith in this world and sometimes even ourselves. In situations where it is easy to hate, I say rather forgive, let things go, because more often than not that mere animosity brings you down. Accept that God will handle it, and while you need not be their best friend, you can be civil in times of company. You know, there are many challenges in life, and may threats ans setbacks when one pursues towards a dream, but you should have faith that persist and heart will prevail. It’s never too late to realise a dream, and all is not lost in this world. Go for it, because you are still alive, you are still here and you still have the ability to learn. At the end of it all, what’s most important is your happiness. Happiness and love should always guide you towards your dreams.
Much love,
Yajna
Ps. You know sometimes we are very upset when things don’t workout, and only years later do we realise the fact it didn’t work out was the best thing that ever happened to us. Have faith my dear, that God knows what he is doing. :)
I trust everyone I just do not trust the little devil that is inside everyone! (From a move I watched last night).
Dear Thelma,
You’re such a strong person. I can’t even remember how to dream when I was a child, because what’s left in my childhood memories all the things that I wish I could forget. That was a bad… really bad memories kind of thing that you don’t want to happened to your own children.
So I grow up protecting my self from everything. I mean everything include from my own family because they’re the one who can hurt me the most. So I don’t have a time for dreaming. I don’t even know how…
My only goal now is to live a save life and try not to kill my self until my time come.
Love,
esti
I’m still a teenager. I have a whole life in front of me to spend. Of course, as every other person, I’m dreaming of changing the world. I dream of changing the world; not by changing any other person or anything else. I want to change the angle through which I’m looking at the world. If I look at the world in a different way, it would appear in a new way to me. It is the easiest way of changing the world. I’m already practicing it. Don’t know whether it will be a success. :)))
Dear Varah,
You reminded me of an old story…
A father had left a very difficult puzzle of the world on the table, and his small son started playing with the pieces.
A few minutes later he called his father to show him a complete picture. His father was astonished and asked the little boy how he was able to put the image together.
The little boy turned the puzzle around and said, ‘look dad, someone drew a man at the back of the world. All I needed to do was to put the man together and the world followed.’
The father smiled.
So you see, changing the world, starts with you, and I think it’s wonderful that a teenager like you realises it.
Much love,
Yajna
When I was a child I dreamed of working with animals, that was my passion, maybe because I spent so much time on my uncles farm, they gave me refuge, and they never judged me.
My mom left, without explanation, I was all of the sudden so lost, I couldn’t understand it and my dad turned into alcoholism as a refuge. I was just 8 at a time. Something inside me died, I was dissapointed. I tried to find love everywhere, in the wrong places growing up…I lost my dream.
When my son was born I began living for him, there was nothing more important to me than to give him a different childhood, a happier one, and so far I see it’s working. I can’t believe how much enthusiasm, joy, happiness, dreams a child has.
Me I’m still trying to find myself, I keep promising myself I’ll go back to my childhood dream, so far I haven’t. Mr.Coelho your books and your blogs are such an inspiration to me I can’t even describe it in words.
ps.If “Heart” is reading this I want to apologise to you sincerily, I didn’t mean what I said, and it’s been weighting on my heart heavily. Thank you for understanding.
Perfect. .
I live in Germany and my english is not very well, but I want to write some of my thoughts here.
My childhood was a disaster. It was hell.
And now, as a young woman, I try to find me….me, myself, my dreams and all of me, what I never had in the past.
I have so many dreams…but there is so much hurt in my heart…..and it is so hard to find yourself while you realize that yourself was not there through all the years of your life.
I do not know, if there is anyone who understand what I try to say with my stupid words…..
Dear Paulo Coelho,
I love your books…..I am always able to find something in your books, what opens my soul and brings light in the dark.
Love,
Laura
I really do understand dear Laura.. believe me..
ok, yes, you may not have been present the past years to your life.. but you say you have dreams, you have so many dreams, you say! look now the opportunity there for you, to change that..let’s change that, shall we?
you ve been given the opportunity now to be there for yourself, for your dreams and to be exactly who you want to be, focusing not on all the experience of the past that hurts but having on focus who you want to be , who you wish to be and be IT!
You CAN BE IT!
Love and Gratitude
Annie
Your words are not stupid, I understand what you are saying:)
Mr.Coelho is the greatest, his blogs and books explain so much, they open my eyes.
When I was given his first book to read “Like a Flowing River” they said to me “read it, you need to read this book, this book is for you, you need it” I said to myself “yeah right” and the book sat on my dresser for a while, when I finally picked it up I couldn’t stop reading it, I fell in love with his writing! Thank you Brazil’s greatest writer, thank you so much! Heck one of the world’s greatest writer!
You are not alone. I understand you very well. And I think many other here. Everyone has his monster in the cabinet. You’ll find your way. Your touching words saying this
Greetings to my home country. Feel hugged.
Heimo
Keep going because you are aware of different parts of your life. It is growing this beautiful part of you that is from nothing that is amazing. You can be strong but it will not come in one day. Strong means taking a step, know you are making changes, and having Faith at times of darkness.
Your comment made sense thanks for posting.
Loved the text to reflect that, and hug Namaste.
Laissons vivre l’enfant qui est en nous car il nous guide, nous ravie et nous survie…
N’oublions jamais de laisser ses battements chavirer nos coeurs, car ils nous chuchotent des vérités que l’adulte semble ignorer…
Enjoy & Love !
Amei o texto faz nós refletir, abraço e namastê
Habitual Beings in us should be destroyed and then it’s a chance to do something from “in between.”
This was truely beautiful and true.Well written.
Yes, the young idealism turns into old realism. Paulo gives some answers to your question in his introduction to the next months workshop. He talks about the four obstacles. First, the parents who tell their children the dream is impossible. Second, because to follow the dream often means to have to leave loved ones. Third, our fear of defeat, of making mistakes. And fourth, not feeling worthy of success.
I was same at twenty, I thought I will change the world. Than, after many failures, at 30 I believed less. But still I believe in miracles. They happen, maybe not each time we want that. Is true, we dont want to suffer, so we expect less. I can say we afraid to end as Madame Bovary.
I agree we must always try.
Dear Alexandra:
..I can say we are afraid to end as Madame Bovary or.. Anna Karenina..
LOVE,
THELMA
“why not act and make it a reality”
ya why ? any anwers. when we all almost know what is the way, why do we not walk, ! in my expereince it’s much easier to just let go and be content with whatever u have. if anyone can really do that, excellant, but unfortunately we kind of let go but are not content with whatever is.
only possible ‘expaijnation’ i can see here is that, we are basically lazy, the kind of efforts required and couple that with wasted efforts, induces us to sleep, a little longer… but let’s not be too critical of ourselvs also, afterall what is the point in blaming someone who is the worst suffere of this. the real culprit is also our best ally, our mind. this instrument, which controls the whole body and needs to be trained. we need to learn to be able to command, the cosnisousness in us needs to be at teh driver’s seat. i feel.
love
aditya
Laura,
You words came through very clear and are not stupid because you are speaking your truth from for your heart.
I can completely relate as my childhood was a disaster too.
Forgive, forgive, forgive and *Let go*
You are in my prayers.
Lots of love to you!!!!
Dearest Yajna, you are beautiful and your words so wise and soothing.. Sometimes I sound and … feel childish.. It is the child, the DREAMER inside me that still .. cries.. I am the most … polite, smiling, forgiving person on earth and I am aware that everything is in HIS hands.
Looking back though, I wonder ..!
I just feel sad that I was not given the opportunity to .. explain and express my love and, as Annie says, my GRATITUDE and my … big, big ANGER! ;-))
The Warrior, my Scorpion ascendant, was asleep at those moments: I was … logical, a Libra with the scales in my .. mind! ;-))
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Thanx…
The vision of a child is much more unique & creative than the vision of most of the adults. That’s why the change should begin from children.(or from the child who’s living in every adult)
Thanks for BEING wonderful Thelma,
My father used to always say “Well, just ‘Tuck and Roll’” when I complained that someone had tripped me up in the quest for my dream. You are so correct that we get smarter as we go along. I have learned to Tuck, Roll, and Dance with the best of them. Isn’t getting older and wiser great? ;-)
Please do not ever stop putting your thoughts here in Paulo’s blog. Your words are inspiring.
((((LOVE))))
Lainee
so true … thelma.
we have all these bruises …
yes, the path looks different, but it does not look wrong. there have been moments that felt “that’s it, it is a situation for me” even though it was not on the “right” path as we defined it.
I still believe in the “Owen-Meany” dynamics, i.e., that my path develops in front of me according to my knowledge & capabilities. thus, the wisdom of the old age is not just there in us to die (because we are old).
darn. all the people who have been tripping me …. there must be a life for me that feels authentic & does not get always put in disorder by them thinking they are powerful.
((((hugs)))), my dear friend. <3
Dearest Esti,
It takes a very strong person to survive memories of what happened in your childhood. I can understand you might feel it is not so, maybe because due to the events your life had to take a different direction, change you as a person to the point that you don’t even know who you are anymore but, you are here to share it with all of us and, I admire you for it.
Sometimes we stop dreaming maybe because we think we don’t deserve our dreams to came true,therefore pretend that, as you say,”don’t have time” for it.
You see, I’ve never stopped dreaming, I’ve used my dreams to escape the reality of what happened when I was a child and I still do, if I didn’t have them I would probably not be here today. My only problem is that the child inside me is still not allowing the adult that I now am, to act on it, I still think everybody else can achieve everything but not me.
So you see we all have strategies to protect ourselfes but, will came a day that, as Paulo Coelho says:” listen to your heart”…
Whatever you feel, that will be your dream.
Today, your goal is your dream.
Tomorrow, you’ll have a new one, a new beginning,where you feel safe within yourself, where the thought of ending your life is just a “bad dream”.
Never give up, you are special, God loves you and so does Life.
I send you my best wishes and a warm hug.
Ps I am sorry if I’m not very clear, but I do hope you understand what I mean.
Dear Clara Z,
Thank you for the reply :)
It’s always nice to know that there’s someone noticed me out there..
Actually I remember when I have to escape from reality, I dreamed or imagined another world, a better world. That’s why I love books or movie and music so much.. But that’s it. Just some daydreaming to help me cope with the worst everyday. I know that’s the way my heart and my mind protect me.
I’ve build such a strong and solid wall inside me. I can’t and won’t break it because I know I WILL shattered, crushed. So there’s no way for true dreams…
thanks for the wishes and hugs
and good luck with your dreams…
My dear Esti,
I feel exactly like you do, it is nice to be noticed sometimes, it makes us feel that what we are saying matter enaugh to someone for a reply.
I too love books, music and movies,even though I have to say that is very difficult for me to concentrate while I read as my mind still wonder in another place, somehow there is always something that takes me back in those days and so, I keep daydreaming to go on another day.
The wall inside me, as you say, is also very strong but since I had a brekdown eleve years ago, I’ve started to slowly break it, every day a little more. There are days that I still fill the cracks, if I start to see the light I get panic but, I know I have to take it down if I want to be free.
I am tired of the guilt that I still feel, even though I know it was not my fault, I was a child,of the shame that is been my companion for almost 40 years, and the anger inside that slowly is killing me and everyone around me.
I’ve accepted what happend to me, in fact I don’t have a problem talking about it, actually, it did help me to be able to make the first crack on my super strong and very reliable wall, but, what I still have problem with are the consequences because of it. Why am I still panishing myself? They already have crushed me once,but,I am still alive and I am now an adult and a mother, I do have to slowly get up and look at the light, because my future is there and, I surely deserve one and so do you dear Esti.
Do you know one of my true dream is to be able to recite a poem or sing a song to my daughter.
It might sound silly but, no matter how many times I read it or how many times I hear the song,I will not be able to remember it, as not even in doing that my mind will not stop daydreaming.
One day you will find a way for your true dream, I know you will.
All the best and remember,you are the most important person.
Big hug
Dear Esti and Clara Z, you both are beautiful Warriors. I love you because you know how to .. dream! Here is a translation of the WALL a poem from Constantinos Cavafis, the poet of ITHACA. This is what has just come into my mind when I read you mentioning WALLS. Remember we are ONE, because LOVE unites us.
Walls
With no consideration, no pity, no shame,
they have built walls around me, thick and high.
And now I sit here feeling hopeless.
I can’t think of anything else: this fate gnaws my mind -
because I had so much to do outside.
When they were building the walls, how could I not have noticed!
But I never heard the builders, not a sound.
Imperceptibly they have closed me off from the outside world.
Constantine P. Cavafy
BLESSINGS.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
When I was sixteen I had a strong feeling that I wanted everybody around me happy and joyful. I had even expressed my desire to my sister while talking playfully: ‘I wish I were a .. Witch and to be able with my ‘magical stick’ give to everyone what they really want and spread health and happiness around.. ‘. I have never thought that people can spread.. darkness and evil.. I do not see the USE of creating havoc, distress and misery. What is the ..gain??
But is seems that in our ‘polite’ society governs the LAW of the JUNGLE: your death my … survival!! May HIS will and KINGDOM come into our Hearts.
Love to you, Lainee. xxx
It feels like a … Stranger in a foreign Land, dearest Rosemarie.. The PERSONA! ;-))
Hugs and blessings to you And my … enemies, whom according to the Law and Karma, I have … attracted into my life!! hahaha
LOVE,
Thelma xxx