Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho

My people, you guys know that I love some writers, and yes I do have some favorites: Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, James McBride, James Baldwin.... BUT, I am going to have to put Paulo Coelho at the very top of my list. Yep, this guy is at the very top of my favorite authors' list.

I do believe that there are prophets still walking this earth, and I strongly believe that Paulo is one of them. He truly knows human nature, and he uses his writings to get readers to think about things such as love, fear, death, and sex in ways that just may solidify some things that we already know or to help us to think about these things from different perspectives. Every single time that I read one of his books, I am moved and changed.

In Veronika Decides to Die, Paulo deals with life, death, love, sanity....

Veronika, the main character, takes a lot of pills in the hopes of committing suicide. But, like in most books, there is no way that the protagonist is going to die in the beginning of the book. Veronika wakes up in a ‘lunatic asylum’ with someone saying to her “You’ve landed slap bang in hell, so you’d better make the most of it.” And, the rest of the book takes place mostly in the insane asylum.

Paulo takes us into the mind of Veronika and a few of the other patients in the insane asylum. It seems, through narration, that almost everyone in the insane asylum are there because they were living lives that he/she did not want to live. So, they escaped real life and ended up in the asylum. Paulo is trying to tell us something about the importance of being true to ourselves and overcoming every obstacle to live a life that gives us meaning.

In the asylum, Veronika and the other patients, realize that they could be whomever they want to be and do whatever they want to do without being judged; there was a sense of freedom on the inside. Veronika’s presence has an effect on several of the patients and causes them to exam their lives, and they decide to go out into the world and live their lives differently than they had before.

Inside, Veronika is drawn back into her passions of music and explores love and life.

My people, what would you do if you weren’t afraid????

Now, in real life Paulo Coelho was committed to a mental institution by his parents three times, because they thought that he must be mentally ill if he wanted to be a writer. He infuses this into the book, and mentions himself in third person. I found this very intriguing; haven’t seen to many authors do this before. This caused me to think about people who go against the norm and pursue their passions and appear to be crazy......

What would you do if you weren’t afraid????

This is a well-written, thought-provoking book that can cause a reader to think about his life, love, death, and the pursuit of happiness.

Paulo’s work should be read, read, and reread!!

Other blogs that I have written about books by Paulo:

The Alchemist 
Eleven Minutes
Adultery

Happy Sunday, My People!!!

Adultery by Paulo Coelho

 

I am a huge fan of Paulo Coelho, and when I heard that he had written a new book, I had to try it...

This book is about a lady named Linda who is in her thirties, she has "a wonderful husband who is madly in love with her, and he is one of the three hundred richest people in Switzerland.... She has two children who are her reason for getting up....She is a highly regarded journalist at a respectable newspaper that can be found in almost all of the news kiosks in Geneva." However, she wakes up one day and ask herself: "Is this it?"

Coelho goes on to tell us that Linda "feels that she is wasting the best years of her life in a pattern that will be repeated over and over until I die; and sheer panic at facing the unknown, however exciting and adventurous that might be."

As I was reading this novel, I thought about the idea of living a life with someone, or even by myself, where I would do the same things over and over again without spontaneity or passion; I think that I would go crazy....... 

He paints a picture of her life being perfect but something is missing; however, I instantly thought that passion is missing from her life. He does not tell us about anything that Linda loves passionately outside of her family: swimming, fishing, reading, hiking etc. It appears that Linda has not found that passion that gets her out of the bed everyday. 

Paulo helps the reader to understand what is going on with Linda by referencing works such as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Louis Stevenson, Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, The Greek Myth of Eros and Psyche, the story of David and Bathsheba from The Bible, and he quotes from the book of Corinthians from The Bible. If you are unfamiliar with these pieces, then it may seem as if Coelho is rambling, but if you know these pieces, you will recognize how Coelho cleverly uses these pieces to fully develop this story line and give us a deeper understanding as to how Linda was feeling. 

Linda goes on to take the risks that she needs to take, and Coelho ends this novel with the idea that "our goal in life is to learn to love.... love is a constant process." And, can I add that I think that we must learn to fall in love over and over again with hobbies, people, life, places etc., in order to having a fulfilling life.

This book was challenging and stimulating, and its just the kind of book that I love; it made me think...... 

If you want to think about life and love from a different perspective, on a whole 'nother level, read Adultery by Paulo Coelho.

By the way, I'll be reading The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty in preparation for my upcoming book club meeting.

Happy Monday, My People!

I LOVE BOOKS!

This is what has been on my mind lately...

This school year, I decided to pair the novels The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo and Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Both novels are about taking a journey.

However, The Alchemist is an allegory, where everything in the story could represent something else. For instance, there is a scene where the main character, Santiago, has to go through a desert, and this could represent the obstacles that a person may face as he takes his life journey to find his 'hidden treasure'. And, the hidden treasure could represent a person's gifts or talents. (You with me?)

In The Life of Pi, the main character is forced on a small boat with a tiger, and he decided to literally take a journey. I am saying that he decided to take the journey, because he could have done something like commit suicide, but instead he took the journey. 

So, I see The Alchemist as an example of a metaphorical journey and Life of Pi as an example of a literal journey. Life of Pi is The Alchemist actualized; The Alchemist is the theory, and Life of Pi is the theory applied. (Are you still with me?)

Santiago in The Alchemist and Pi from The Life of Pi both had preparation before they took their journeys. Santiago was a sheep herder before his journey, and he learned a lot from that experience that he took with him on his journey. Pi's family owned a zoo, and he practiced three different religions, and all of this helped him on his journey.

My people, I truly believe that we are always being prepared for next. So, I try to do everything to the top of my potential so that when next come, I am prepared. I teach my very best. I cycle my very best. I blog my very best. However, I am learning that even with doing my very best, I fall short, and I just keep on doing my very best.

Santiago and Pi both had guides along the way. Santiago's guides were mostly people and listening to that inner voice, and Pi's guides were in the form of people, reading, and listening to his inner voice as well.

Now, I know that I have and have had many guides on this journey. There have been people who have come into my life and basically helped me to put some of those missing pieces together. I am sure that I have helped others along the way as well. People need other people.

Both Santiago and Pi anticipated giving up, but something kept them moving forward. After one of his many obstacles, Santiago decided that he was going back home to what he was familiar with, but something nudged him to continue to follow his passion. When Pi finally came to the realization that his entire family was gone, and he was alone: "I lay on the taurpin and spent the whole night weeping and grieving, my face buried in my arm." But, just like Santiago, Pi makes the decision to carry on.

Sometimes, but not often, I think that I should stop blogging or stop cycling or stop teaching, but something always nudges me along. Not sure about you, but sometimes I need those nudges that say I am enough so that I keep on keeping on.

Both characters seemed to put the end result in the back of their minds and continued to move forward and were given enough grace to make it through each day.

Santiago no longer worried about what he left behind, and he kept moving forward. I believe that he soon began to believe that everything would turn out just like it was suppose to. He was told to not focus on where his treasure was, but to keep moving forward, because he would know, in his heart, when he had reached it.

Pi, finally stopped focusing on being rescued. Instead, he remained busy keeping himself and the tiger alive. His circumstances forced him to be in the moment and to not worry about the future. I believe that being busy and not focusing on when he would be rescued, helped Pi to survive 227 days on that boat with a tiger. Since he didn't know when his journey would end, there was no reason for him to focus on the end.

I am practicing doing the same thing; not worrying about the end result, but focusing on staying busy, with a purpose, believing that everything that I am believing for will manifest. This week when I went to exercise, I decided to go hard until each exercise was finished instead of focusing on when the exercise would end. I decided to practice this on a small scale and eventually apply this to my life. My people, I had a whole different workout experience that was quite rewarding. A Dream Comes Through Much Activity not focusing on the end.

Well, no one came to rescue either character, and they both ended up right where they were suppose to. Let me repeat that, no one came to rescue either character, and they both ended up right where they were suppose to.

My people, Superman is not coming. So, we might as stop waiting for him and continue to move forward knowing that we will end up right where we are suppose to.

There is so much to be learned from literature, and that is one of the main reason why I read novels.

I LOVE BOOKS!

Thanks for taking this rather lengthy journey with me!!!

Happy Last Day of Black History Month.....

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Today, I am soooo Thankful for WORDS.

Words have POWER......

Words have the power to uplift, empower, inspire, destroy, hurt, kill....

The entire world was formed through words!

I have grown so much through the reading of words, sometimes my words, but definitely from the words of others.

There are some writes such as Toni Morrison with Song of Solomon, Eckhart Tolle with The Power of Now, Wayne Dyer with The Power of Intention, and Paulo Coelho with The Alchemist who inspire me to want to examine my own life and to continuously search my heart, get to know it very well, and to follow it.

The main character in The Alchemist is a young Shepard named Santiago who has a dream of finding a treasure in the pyramids in Egypt. Santiago, like all of us, could either ignore or answer his heart when it spoke to him. He sought counsel from a gypsy woman and an old man, and they both told him that "To realize one's destiny is a  person's only obligations." He was also told that "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it," and "Wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure."

There were obstacles to Santiago getting to his treasure and many times he became content and could have stayed where he was, but "to realize one's destiny is a person's only obligation."

I want to be in God's perfect will, I want to continue to examine my heart, I do not want to leave this earth with my gifts still inside of me, and to do this I must be able to hear my heart and answer it.

The tricky part to this is that "My heart is a traitor" says Santiago "It doesn't want me to go on."

The alchemist responded "That makes sense, naturally it's afraid that, in pursing your dream, you might lose everything you've won. You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it's better to listen to what it has to say. That way, you'll never have to fear an unanticipated blow."

Santiago did find his treasure, and you are going to be surprised when you find out where he finds his treasure!

This book spoke to my heart, and I am paying close attention to it.

Today, on Thanksgiving, I am Thankful for Paulo Coelho's words that have the power to transform and ignite!

Enjoy this Day, and Follow Your Heart.....

Thankful Thursday: People, People, People...

Kelly and Me

Around mile 6 of the Rock and Roll half marathon, I ran up on this guy named Kelly, who is in the picture above. I did not know him, but I knew that I needed someone to run with in order to finish this race. So, I saw him running my same pace, and I started running next to him. At first he had on his headset and was paying me no attention, but I wouldn't go away. I said to him "I like your pace," he said "Thanks." Then I said "You look like a strong runner." This caught his attention, and he took off his headset, and we were a team.

I asked him if he had ever seen the movie or read the book The Hunger Games, and he said no. I told him that in the movie, the main character was able to work with a partner in order to try and win the games, and I knew that once they partnered up, they would surely win. I told him that now that we were partnered in this race, we would surely win, and we did. We finished the race strong and together. It's amazing what two or three people can do when they combine their efforts.

I know for sure, for my life, that people make the world go round. As stated by Paulo Coelho in the novel Eleven Minutes:

"Humans can withstand a week without water, two weeks without food, many years of homelessness but not loneliness. It is the worst of all tortures, the worst of all sufferings."

Now, there are many ways to cure loneliness: read a book, think, watch TV, play a game on your phone, talk on the phone or spend time with people who want to spend time with you and that you want to spend time with in return.

Nothing brings me more joy than being with people, and today, I am so Thankful for people who definitely make my world go round.

I've been out of town quite a bit, but thank God for text and email, I have still been able to stay in contact with quite a few people. While away, a co-worker texted me to check on me, and we spent a wonderful day together at the pool on Tuesday. Wednesday, I met some ladies to bike ride. I did not know them before the ride, but they sure did fill my desire to be with people and workout. (I killed two birds with one stone.) There is not a lot of talking on a bike ride, but there is enough talking to create a bond. Thursday, I am meeting a friend in DC for lunch which is what we love to do since I'm not working and can actually meet someone for lunch. I spend quite a bit of time alone, but I need "my people" from time to time for sure.

I do this often, try it, and see don't you feel happier. I think pleasant thoughts about as many people as I can each day. There is no way that I can be in touch with all of the people whom I love daily, but I can think pleasant thoughts of them, and it makes me so happy. I think about someone having a great time on their vacation, or someone having a really great day at work, or someone meeting the guy or girl of their dreams and  the pleasant thoughts come back to me a 1000 folds over. Try it right now..... Thoughts are FREE!

I try and image my life without people, and I can't image it because it makes my heart sad. I want and need an abundance of good people in life.



On that note, today, Thankful Thursday, I am sooooo Thankful for people.......

Call or text and connect or reconnect with someone whom you think is great today; It's medicine for the heart.

Happy Thankful Thursday!!!!

If you are in my life, just know that I totally appreciate you!!!!!

"Eleven Minutes" by Paulo Coelho

 (This post has adult content. Just warning you.)

Paulo Coelho: What a man! What a man!

I really feel that Paulo Coelho should be a household name. A few years back, my first introduction to him was through his novel The Alchemist. The Alchemist is absolutely fabulous. If you are on any type of journey or need to take a life journey, I highly recommend this book. My students tell me that every book is my favorite, but The Alchemist is really at the top of my list.

After reading the Alchemist, I realized that this man has a lot to say, and I wanted to hear it. I read several of his other books, and I really do love all of his books. However, the one that really struck a cord with me as much as The Alchemist was Eleven Minutes. 

I had to share Eleven Minutes with two of my friends that I knew would get it: My dear friend Dr. Semple and one of my most well-read friends who enriches my life every time that I talk to him, Tjuan Smith. Tjuan and I both came to the conclusion that this novel is not for the faint at heart, and we only recommend it to people who are ready...............

By the way, I must give a shout out to T. Smith. Tjuan Smith lives in Chicago and is a graduate of Tuskegee University. (The Pride of The Swift Growing South.) He is a great listener, good friend, conscientious, and a Certified Project Manager and Six Sigma Black Belt for the TLS Global Consulting Group. (You see, I really have awesome friends.)

T. Smith

Back to Eleven Minutes! Recently, Eleven Minutes was on my mind, so I reread it, and it was even more captivating this read than on the first read. Paulo Coelho is THE MAN!!!!

This is one of those books that moved me so much until all that I could do was sit and think after I finished it. I was not so sure what I should be thinking, but I knew that I needed to think and go back and read my many highlighted passages.

The main character Maria is lured into a life while searching for adventure, money and/or a husband, and she had to make a decision: "I can choose to be a victim of the world or an adventurer in search of treasure. It's all a question of how I view life."  She eventually meets a man whom she loves, and he loves her, and she discovers that love is a sense of being with someone without actually possessing him: True Freedom. (This was so liberating to me: loving without possessing.) 

I'm going to let this book speak for itself:

"Although my aim is to understand love, and although I suffer to think of the people to whom I gave my heart, I see that those who touched my heart failed to arouse my body, and that those who aroused my body failed to touch my heart."     

 "If you live your life intensely, you experience pleasure all of the time and don't feel the need for sex. When you have sex, it's out of the sense of abundance, because the glass of wine is so full it overflows naturally, because it is inevitable, because at that moment, and only at the moment, you have allowed yourself to lose control."

 "If I must be faithful to someone or something, then I have, first of all, to be faithful to myself."

"Anyone who has lost something they thought was theirs forever, finally come to realize that nothing really belongs to them."

"Humans can withstand a week without water, two weeks without food, many years of homelessness but not loneliness. It is the worst of all tortures, the worst of all sufferings."

"In love, no one can harm anyone else; we are each of us responsible for our own feelings and cannot blame someone else for what we feel."

"All my life, I thought of love as some kind of voluntary enslavement… Freedom only exists when love is present. The person who gives him or herself wholly, the person who feels freest, is the person who loves the most."

"The great aim of every human being is to understand the meaning of total love. Love is not to be found in someone else, but in ourselves; we simply awaken it. But in order to do that, we need the other person. The universe only makes sense when we have someone to share our feelings with."

"Really important meetings are planned by the souls long before the bodies see each other."

If the above quotes spoke to your heart, read this book and do it soon. I promise that you will think about a lot of things differently.

Every book is not my favorite book, but this one is surely high on my list.

By the way, it contains adult content and children should stray away!!!