Our allies

by Paulo Coelho on February 13, 2012

Our allies will not necessarily be the kind of dazzling people to whom everyone looks up and of whom they say: ‘There’s none better.’

On the contrary, they are people who are not afraid of making mistakes and who do, therefore, make mistakes, which is why their work often goes unrecognized.
Yet they are just the kind of people who transform the world and, after many mistakes, manage to do something that can make a real difference in their community.
They are people who can’t bear to sit around waiting for things to happen in order to decide which attitude to adopt; they decide as they act, well aware that this could prove highly dangerous.
Living with such people is important because we need to realize that before we face our goal, we must first feel free enough to change direction.

Join with all those who experiment, take risks, fall, get hurt and then take more risks.
Stay away from those who affirm truths, who criticise those who do not think like them, people who have never once taken a step unless they were sure they would be respected for doing so, and who prefer certainties to doubts.

Join with those who sing, tell stories, take pleasure in life, and have joy in their eyes, because joy is contagious and can prevent others from becoming paralysed by depression, loneliness and difficulties.

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{ 128 comments… read them below or add one }

Eric February 14, 2012 at 6:36 pm

Thank you for your support,
All the best,
E.

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Przemek February 14, 2012 at 1:03 pm

Great reading, Paulo! So motivating :)

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Gerlinde Keating February 14, 2012 at 5:28 pm

I agree, Paulo. Someone asked me if I have ever made mistakes in my life and would I change anything if I could. I thought about it and I said NO.
Mistakes are only stepping stones to your goal in life, you learn from thesm and move on. Changing anything – No. If I would have changed anything then I would not be here where I am today. My life has been a “Roller Coaster” but I have learned so much and I always keep a positive attitude. Sometimes I just took one step at a time and use my energy to move forward.

Happy Valentines!

Wendelyn February 13, 2012 at 11:30 pm

Beautiful, thank you Paulo! I agree. The wanderer is not necessarily lost, sometimes she is seeking adventure. Sometimes she is seeking the truth. Sometimes she is seeking just for the sake of seeking.

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Jessica February 13, 2012 at 10:12 pm

:-) *smile*

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Rosana February 13, 2012 at 6:09 pm

Así es, nuestros aliados están mas cerca de lo que creemos, muchas veces las grandes personas no están en las revistas de fama y gloria o en las alturas, donde para llegar a ellos tenemos que sortear tantos obstáculos como en la vida misma…Nuestros aliados están en aquellas personas que trabajan silenciosamente pero sin descanso, en aquel ser que en una mirada puede devolvernos el significado mas profundo del mundo, en quien es capaz de aligerar su equipaje y soltar amarras para seguir solo con el peso que su alma y su cuerpo pueden soportar, caminando con el paso firme pero equilibrado dejando la huella que es necesaria para poder seguir sus pasos. Un gran abrazo

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ANKIT RAKESH February 13, 2012 at 6:02 pm

Paulo sir……………right now I feel really blessed for having an opportunity to stay with one such person………..my roomie…………..

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Tânia Love February 13, 2012 at 5:43 pm

Reli novamente e cá estou. Uma vez houve uma senhora num acampamento lésbico, ela chama-se Margarida, ela disse que as pessoas não podem ter medo do ridiculo. Eu sempre me exponho e acho que faço papel de palhaço, achei muitas vezes que afinal era o bobo da festa. Por ser mais sensivel, por me apaixonar facilmente, por amar as mulheres apesar de neste momento namorar com o Pedro, também esquizofrénico e um residente no Hospital Julio De Matos em Lisboa. Mas é assim que sou e partilhei bons momentos com a minha ex-Psicologa doutora Susana , com a Ana a minha ex namorada , com a minha primeira mulher que tinha mais 20 anos do que eu. A vida é complexa, não podemos defini-la com uma palavra, o amor também não, mas o amor tem uma voz universal o amor fala por si…

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Rosana February 13, 2012 at 5:41 pm

Así es, la gente que cambia el mundo no esta en las revistas de fama y gloria, ni en las alturas donde para llegar a ellos hay que sortear tantos obstáculos como en la vida misma… La gente sencilla que trabaja silenciosamente pero sin descanso, que se atreve a caer y levantarse las veces que sean necesarias para templar su espíritu, quien te devuelve en una mirada el significado de su inmenso mundo, quien suelta amarras y aligera su equipaje para seguir andando con el paso firme y equilibrado y dejando aun asi huellas profundas…Esa maravillosa gente se transforma en el mejor aliado que podamos tener…
Besos

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Empié February 13, 2012 at 10:56 pm

Me gusta.

Kavita Srivastava February 13, 2012 at 4:55 pm

So heart felt truth!In this modern time we always tend to take safe route to be successful, avoiding new lane or valley ,as we see there a chance of failure.But if you don’t take a new trekking route,you will never see a new wild flower, or a colorful bird , or splashing spring!!!

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karin February 13, 2012 at 4:41 pm

Quem nao se arrisca a fracassos, nunca chega a vitória. É preciso ousar e nao ter medo de assumir os próprios riscos. Assim acontece com aqueles que chegaram ao topo e estes vitoriosos possuem uma energia invejavel, capaz de transformar o mundo…
Nosso comportamento influencia aos demais, daí a importancia de sermos alegres , positivos e cheio de entusiasmos pela vida afora…

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Jasmine February 13, 2012 at 3:56 pm

Thank You for sharing your soul. Your books and blogs have been there for me always. And this particular write comes at the time i really needed it. I send you my love and hope for happiness in your life.

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Natasha Novínsky February 13, 2012 at 3:50 pm

Só alcançamos a vitoria,depois de travar muitas batalhas com os outros e com nós mesmos.Vencer,só depende da certeza de que somos capazes de ir além do que muitos não conseguem enxergar.
A depressão,a tristeza profunda vem infelizmente da nossa incapacidade de entender que somos feitos para a felicidade,mas nos apegamos a pessoas e coisas que desejamos,mas que não correspondem ao nosso desejo de felicidade,frustrados,enveredamos pelos caminhos cinzentos da depressão.
Quando vivemos a vida do outro,deixamos de lado a chance de ser feliz,pois devemos viver primeiro a nossa vida,os nossos sonhos, e só assim,entenderemos os desejos e sonhos do outro.
Beijos querido!!!

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Shine February 13, 2012 at 3:48 pm

Beautiful Paulo……………..love Avantika

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toñi February 13, 2012 at 3:32 pm

Hola Paulo,
tienes razón, por eso tienes tantos admiradores, yo me incluyo entre tus admiradores (si no te parece mal). Porque las personas necesitamos unirnos para cantar, reir, soñar y poder expresarnos. Y la mayoría de las personas que tienen grandes ideas y rompieron el molde establecido por la sociedad, esa gran mayoría de personas parecen invisibles pero están ahí y son importantes. Un texto precioso. Yo estoy del lado de los aliados de esas personas. Un fuerte abrazo,
Toñi.

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Francis Oliverio February 13, 2012 at 3:22 pm

I agree! Taking risks is very important.

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Empié February 13, 2012 at 2:51 pm

La verdad es que no todos viven la vida, unos se ciñen a un parámetro que puede ser o no ajeno a ellos pero del que no pueden salir sin sentir miedo, estarían fuera del rebaño y serían señalado por el como ellos señalan a los que no siguen al rebaño.

Con esto de la crisis dentro de la crisis veo como reacciona gente que ha estado en mi vida desde siempre, hace un momento he visto al padre de un amigo que conozco de toda la vida, me ha evitado, conozco su pensamiento, estoy fuera del rebaño, sin trabajo, con una enfermedad mental, un vago… por dios vaya que no vaya a pedir dinero, hay que alejarse ahora que las cosas van mal, al menos al resto… Joder, que poco valen, al final quien ha tenido que desaparecer ha desaparecido, y los valientes siguen a mi lado, incluso me ofrecen su casa. Lo que pasa es que esta gente se dejan llevar por los rumores del rebaño, resulta que si no estas hipotecado hasta las cejas, no tienes un coche a poder ser grande, y una pareja( a veces da igual quien sea con que sea del sexo contrario es suficiente), eres un perdido, que pena que no hayan hecho una cuenta en su vida, los pisos que costaban 40 millones de pesetas hace 5 años ahora cuestan 15, supongo que la gente que lleva pagando ya 5 años quizá solo haya pagado los intereses del préstamo, con lo que todavía tengo 25 millones a mi favor; supongo que el precio del coche, sumado a la gasolina que consume, el seguro, la plaza de aparcamiento, las reposiciones de neumáticos, y las averías, quizá supongan unos 300 euros (depende del tipo de coche…) por mes de vida útil, descontando lo que te pueden dar por vender el coche a los 10 años (no lo he consultado pero supongo que será más o menos lo que tarda alguien en reponerlo siempre que lo conserve bien), si te desplazan en transporte público de forma habitual, con 50 euros al mes te puedes apañas, lo que suponen 250 euros a favor del que no tiene coche, multiplicado por 120 es un dinero; y quizá lo más importante y en lo que no se piensa demasiado, la pareja, una mala elección puede fastidiar bastante tu vida, en el caso de tener hijos si te separas son unos 400 euros de pensión (no estoy seguro) por hijo, 2 hijos 800 euros, no se exactamente por cuanto tiempo de pende de la edad de los niños, pero pueden ser fácilmente 15 años, que por otra parte tienes que pagar la vivienda en donde ya no vives, por lo que la vida se puede complicar bastante.

Pero como dice Gonzalo, no viven y dan lecciones de vida, absurdo. En cualquier caso me alegro por este día, a pesar de todo soy optimista y la alegría está volviendo, seguro que trae todo lo demás.

Un saludo.

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Empié February 13, 2012 at 5:13 pm

Siento los errores, con lo bonito e interesante que podía haber quedado…

Otro saludo.

Anusha February 13, 2012 at 2:30 pm

LOve the writings….. WIll always continue to be so…. hate backstabbers anyways it made me smile after a long hour of crying and silence and lol sleep :) did burst out on mom n some stupid fellow who doesn’t even know how to convince me but gave a try!!…
paulo coelho uncle naa dear paulo please never stop writing …..
sincerely Anusha

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Ahmed Hammad February 13, 2012 at 2:22 pm

it is unbelievable it seems that you just experienced life so well you know really what are you talking about …i am just sitting waiting things to happen to me and paralyzed by depression afraid to take the move and face an unknown world or a dream afraid may be it is not right to do so once you said the safest place for the ship is the port and that was not what was the ship built for….the most right thing you have said above we have to be free enough to make our decisions

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Brave_soul February 13, 2012 at 9:20 pm

You are free to make choice. We all are. It is just fear. Sometime we grow up to believe that safe is the right thing. Sacrifice is the right thing to do. Go with the flow is the right thing to do. Obey is the right thing to do. Well, I will not lie to you. Safe is good and much less painful. But remember you choose safe because you are free to choose. I will not recommend you to take risk if you are afraid. Fear and risk are a perfect combination of failure. You need to know that with risk there are rewards, pain and new experienced you. First figure out what do you want from life and choose your path. If you knew that today is your last day of your life what would you do. People who take risk think of life as if it is their last day.
You are not depressed, you are focusing on the wrong things. Focusing on everyone and everything but yourself.
I really wish you will wake up tomorrow feeling larger than life and everyone in it.

Live you life!

Hope February 15, 2012 at 3:47 pm

We have all been where ‘you are at’ and I am sure many can relate to your sentiments; however, I agree with the last post that it is seldom helpful to think of yourself as ‘depressed’ as this is disempowering and can result in ‘victim’ state.

The im\portant thing to remember is that no matter what has gone before, it has GONE! ..the past is over, whether 5 years or minutes ago, and life always starts NOW.

If you are having a hard time, treat yourself well and do something for yourself that you would do for someone you really love. Do it NOW, and if you fail, try again; now.

Practice loving yourself (not in a conceated way, but self-respect) and you will certainly become happy. It takes practice, but there is never a better time to start than NOW.

Finally, there are lots of us ‘out there’ and want you to succeed:
WE CARE!
:-)

kourosh February 13, 2012 at 2:16 pm

Short Stories please Paulo, No more Philosophy!
Cheers
Kourosh

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Kyrill February 13, 2012 at 2:16 pm

Hi Paulho,

I really enjoy reading your blogs and I find them very entertaining and with a great deal of good advice. I also recently finished reading your book The Winner Stands Alone and I really enjoyed it. It was a great movie about the film festival of Cannes and I recommend it to anyone to read it.

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berit February 13, 2012 at 2:08 pm

Thank you so much for your lovely posts ! They really gives me a lot.

Regards from a new reader i Norway : )

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Florence February 13, 2012 at 2:05 pm

Awsome !!! :)

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Cynthia Pugh February 13, 2012 at 2:04 pm

Joy such an illusive state
That I experience in moments little moments
Like a smile an infectious laugh love shinning from another’s eyes
Joy in a moment’s expression
Of nature showing you a crystal clear and bright
The joy of reading Mr Coelho’s blog
That reminds us that we are all one
That is a joy to me

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Beatrice February 13, 2012 at 2:01 pm

I always thought that to biggest risk is to take no risk… and so what if other people think that I am not normal? In fact what is normal?! You make my day again, thank you! Smile, life is a beauty!

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rae February 13, 2012 at 1:59 pm

But sometimes those people who sing and are joyful become tired of fighting that loneliness takes its toll on them. Should they be judged for deciding to assert more than necessary then just raise the white flag in the end to reach their own happiness? Mediocrity kills the fighting soul when the game is about majority wins.

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Harshada February 13, 2012 at 1:46 pm

perfect time to read it!! i needed that smile…

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Dominiq Li February 13, 2012 at 1:45 pm

i love this. absolutely, extremely.

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DhannyaN February 13, 2012 at 1:43 pm

Greetings Paulo,

Referring to the first sentence you wrote in Our Allies – aren’t the dazzling people we refer to as ‘There’s none better’ dazzling ; because they not afraid of making mistakes and are not afraid to experiment, take risks, fall, get hurt and then take more risks.- pls comment

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Gonzalo February 13, 2012 at 1:20 pm

Excelente descripción, lastima que la mayoria son del tipo que hacen todo sobre seguro y le tienen miedo a los cambios y lo peor de todo son siempre los que dan indicaciones a los demas de como se deben hacer las cosas o mejor dicho como harian ellos las cosas de los demas.
Abrazo

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heart February 13, 2012 at 1:19 pm

Our allies isn’t always who pretends to be allies. A peer emailed me and said; Heart for president! Go get’em tiger! This message looks full of support. The truth is this peer has falsely reported me for stuff, and the only reason she sends me this email- is to flatter my opinion about herself. Other peers might not say much, but are much more loyal.

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Story of Mina Jade February 13, 2012 at 12:42 pm

My best friends are my role models – boisterous, self-assured, good-looking persons. My first love is also their kind. They can encourage me. However, other friends are less spectacular: my awesome mentor (also a best friend) may be moody or critical, yet I could learn so much from him. He says about writing, there are authors who write about themselves and their thoughts, they write best-sellers, fans adore them – and after a while they have nothing to say and they quit writing. He, on the other hand, listens to people, opens his eyes to the world, and works hard; he does not write blockbusters, neither does he write awful books. He prefers his own method. Let me tell you he writes great novels.

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Olta Canka February 13, 2012 at 12:10 pm

You already have the no to joy, so take the risk to be happy. :)
Love

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eliana February 13, 2012 at 11:16 am

As wise as always . i never get better advise than the ones i get from you . You always give me answers without knowing my questions . So thank you dear paulo .

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Misa Mariposa February 13, 2012 at 10:10 am

Gracias por compartir…llega en buen tiempo…
Paulo, getting to live in different cultures, I get of course confused with several different attitudes towards life… right now in a country, where people are saying things like ‘dreaming things that are difficult to achieve can be harmful’…that’s a scary view i believe, without wanting to judge, because it is a true belief. and it might be the right attitude, escaping possibilities of suffering, disappointment, no expectations, no dreaming, non-attachment … but then my question would be: how did mankind evolve at all, with that fear of change, that standing still in a culture,…?
i wonder then, where does this attitude come from, that some of the people out there dare to dream, dare to ask questions where the answers are uncertain, feed themselves from that courage to create their own vision, to make mistakes and get on with life no matter what.
are we really all that much different deep inside??
so these days i find it scary being a smiling friend (which i can easily stand up for, for all those things you described above), because sometimes we don’t know how to transmit the roots of that smile, the mistakes and experience attached to them, the positive energy… everybody has to walk their own path in the end…and so, sometimes some people cannot connect, even if the essence is existing!isn’t it….?

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Joachim February 13, 2012 at 10:03 am

Thanks a lot for your encouragement of trying, doing,…, we are not supposed to sit in a cage with allies

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Cristina B February 13, 2012 at 9:59 am

Those who criticize behave this way cause the try to expell the “rotten stuff” and the death inside of them.
Death is caused by their fear of falling and making mistakes.
But mistakes are a part of life, that’s made of Agape.
And Agape is a Big Wave of Energy, going up and down, in and out, being black then white.
So making mistakes is inevitable, if you are alive.
Love
Cris.

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Gracie February 13, 2012 at 9:55 am

Miss reading your short but valuable reads uncle paulo. Again, thanks so much. GOD BLESS All po.

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aiken rules February 13, 2012 at 9:49 am

that’s make me an enemy not an ally =c

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vittoria pagano February 13, 2012 at 9:31 am

E’ meritevole colui che condivide ti seguo perchè sei uno di quelli

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Cristina B February 13, 2012 at 9:53 am

Completamente d’accordo!!!
ciao
Cris

Irina Black February 13, 2012 at 9:28 am

Человек не скот на откорме.Он живёт для любви,а не для пользы.Антуан де Сент Экзюпери.

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Kanika Dogra February 13, 2012 at 9:14 am

joy is as contagious as Paulo Coelho is. :)

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eleonora February 13, 2012 at 8:46 am

Grazie e buona giornata!!!!!!!

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Thandile nazo February 13, 2012 at 8:46 am

Since i have read you writtings my life has change,after been diagnosed as spinal cord i didn’t see life what mean but when you tell us about the sign that we should follow my life change i was able to read the sign and able to understand what meant the law of nature and how important are omens thank you sir,now i want to write book where should i start

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LoveM February 13, 2012 at 8:44 am

All..lies?
Our separation How we love the sensation Alienation
Now is friendliness Something you have to do or Is it what you are
I say this not to Question or to doubt oneself But to see Oneself
Do not try to love Someone Anyone Everyone See All as OneSelf

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criststar11 February 13, 2012 at 8:38 am

At the last times I´m crushing with people who criticize not what I think but What I am. At this moment I´m not trying to convince anybody. I just try to be and to live in the energy of my own awakening… and of course want to share with others, I think that the mind offers us the possibility to look everywhere in all the dimensions known and unknown. Life at least is discovery, you travel, you are on your train to discover. You might be strong enough to be convince of what you are thinking is the right thing for your present, but you can also be aware to change attitude, because I think that life flows in a perpetual transformation. Even the vibration of the stones are part of the Universe… bu as they are fixed on the floor you can´t imitate them to behave like them… it will be crazyness… As human being I think we are within the emanation of the divine. I think that when you let down arrogance you can win every battle, this is my personal point of view. I´m not afraid to be criticize for what I am, for what I think but as I want to give my energy on the full awakening of the world I can´t follow ways who are not mine, I can´t give alla the answers to those who are on the surch… If you want somebody to awake I think you must give him freedom. The freedom to decide, the freedom to choose… you can be hurt on doing this of course, but what´s the matter of this? Even to be hurt is a way to grow, you never will see a tree who doesn´t need rain and storms to grow up strong. Mistakes and taking risks, so is the life… otherwise what it is? The Light, the awakening of the Light in this world is the most important thing for me, the love I prove for my Mother is absolute… She is the Aleph and the Tav of my heart. I just try to be, to live what I am fully in this world. I just try to love as honnest as I can. The Light help us always as we consider it part of us. If we forget God in ourselves what is the sense of the all we see? The last distance somebody took with me is because I told him that the wales are very important in this world there are the manifestation of the soul of the earth, so of the Mother, because thanks to their sonar the equillibrate the all ecosystem and the magnetic camp of the world… he took distance… how should I feel? It doesn´t matter. What matters is the goal not the single person, all you pronounce on the earth takes part in heaven. Till the people will not see the manifestation of the Universe in the earth, they will not see themselves in the Garden od Eden. But we are the warriors who MUST take back the Eden of the earth. We human beings. Time to awake, time to be aware and time to love each other. The Gevurah remains us that evry choice is an active choice, passivity doesn´t exist in universe. Passivity is perversion of the mind. Consciensnes is important, because all action in consciensness is important. When you act in consciesness you get higher, no matter what happens after, what comes after is in the plan of God… Consciensness of the heart is the door of freedom. That´s what I think, it´s not maybe the truth, the truth is not from this world, we are just part of it ;) Thank you Paulo, Sending you infinite Light, may God belss you everafter… :) Cris

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Eric February 15, 2012 at 1:39 am

Thank you very much Cris for these thoughts (facts?) put into words. It is really going to help me through these days. I am fed up with people criticizing good as much as bad what I do or what I believe; ex: in an ironic way: Ho, he does, did it by himself!, I don’t want to hear that! whether smoking cigarettes is good or bad…etc…
I am aware that this person is old and that in our countries sometimes old people behave like that commenting loudly every thing a person does, says, or even thinks.
I am living in a foreign country which is Thailand, and I am bound to behave in the same ways that foreigners had and have to live often in their lives… which means: differences, adaptation, but also efforts to contribute to the community that welcomed me years ago. But still also racism, threats, constantly being called a foreigner, etc…
I am living with a Thai citizen, but she is from what they call a hill tribe. Their origins being from China, my partner always lived and lives now as a stranger for many of the Thais, despite all her efforts to grow in the community, to work harder than she can, to raise her kid with my help etc… I think that jealousy is motivating these people. I don’t have much money but with a little my partner could grow to a let’s call OKay income in Thailand.
To me it was similar to the micro enterprises in India that proved that it was very helpful for the locals.
I would really like to stay here for many reasons, but I am aware that I might have to make a quick move, and that will not be without my partner and her son.
Is there no magical way of having a person or several persons to understand that we like simplicity, quietness, no aggressiveness, be free to decide whether smoking a fag or too much coffee is good or bad and NO COMMENTS!!!
I really like your whale theory, (I used to listen a lot to whales communication adapted with modern classical music..) that was really magical experiences.
Sending to you, to Paulo, and the allies the earliest rays of light from Thailand.
Love,
E.

Marie-Christine February 15, 2012 at 11:06 am

Well then may be men might want ‘to come back from Mars’ and realise also that without women’s contribution they would not be on this Earth.
That would be a whale of an improvement in the consciousness area…..
Just imagine all of us having a well of a time in Eden celebrating that event,
Sending waves your way ~~~~~~~~~~ with Aqua ri us.
with love and :)
Marie-Ch ristine

Ruth February 13, 2012 at 8:38 am

just what I needed to read today, arohanui great love

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IB February 13, 2012 at 8:36 am

“They are people who can’t bear to sit around waiting for things to happen in order to decide which attitude to adopt; they decide as they act.”

Action is more important than attitude because attitude is ego. Experiment, then decide.

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Susan February 13, 2012 at 8:29 am

…the smile really does light up everything and everyone..it has the energy to do that..imagine when we all do it…we have the power to illuminate many worlds and break a few enemies. Last night my daughter was trying to teach me how to play chess, to be honest, I was taking my learning very slowly and was making moves that reduced her to fits of laughter and yet I saw her light shine so brightly and we shared such a magical time. Did I learn anything ?, not much about chess – okay that the pawn moves vertically and takes diagonally(?) – but plenty about the fun we have when we are not in competition.

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oanis February 13, 2012 at 2:28 pm

je suis entrain d avoir de grandes sensations émotionnels en lisant vos articles , Paulo , tu nous donnes des choses vraiment très objectives.merci coelho .je suis hate de te lire

Marie-Christine February 13, 2012 at 8:27 am

Ally
Allie (in French)
everything is linked.
love
Marie-Christine

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pritika kumar February 13, 2012 at 8:02 am

So true! makes me feel better, like always.

evergrateful
Pritika

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