Book of the Week: Manuscript Found in Accra

Balot's Stamp: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I have read Accra before (I could not remember when, of course). But since I have a memory of a fish, it was like reading this Coelho novel for the first time (again!).

It's amazing how Coelho's novels have become an important part of my life. By the River Piedra helped me during my younger years when I was still finding my way in the crazy world of love and the frustrations that came with it; Veronika Decides To Die accompanied me during my depression; Winner Stands Alone rose with me at the height of my career; The Alchemist once again guided me to my destiny when I decided to leave  my corporate job and eventually found my first love, writing; and now (again), Manuscript when the whole waiting for my pregnancy to happen is becoming a source of great frustration.

Manuscript Found in Accra, like all other Coelho books, is very insightful. I have read in one review that it sounded preachy -- well, that was the whole point of the book actually. Because the Captain (Copt) is being asked questions about life and everything in between and he shares his wisdom. When you share your wisdom, it can be taken in two ways: to those who resist, it will sound preachy; to those who are open, it will give you enlightenment. I am part of the latter. Once again, Coelho sheds light to my uneasiness.

One of the strategies that I have in choosing a book is looking for excerpts - if I am drawn to one part of the book, I am more likely to enjoy it. But of course, that does not happen 100% of the time.

Well anyway -- here goes the part which I liked (among many others) --

"The traveler continues his journey. He doesn't complain of boredom now; he complains, rather, that he is tired. But that that point he rests, enjoys the landscape, and then carries on.
Instead of spending his whole life destroying the roads he was afraid of following, he begins to love the road he is on.

Religions teach that faith and transformation are the only ways of drawing near to God.

Even if his final destination remains a mystery, even if, at some point, he makes a wrong decision, God sees his courage and sends him the necessary inspiration to put matters right.

What continues to trouble him is not what happens, but a fear that he won't know how to deal with it. Once he has decided to follow his path and has no alternative, he discovers that he has great willpower and that events bend to his decisions.

"Difficulty" is the name of an ancient tool that was created purely to help us define who we are. Faith shows us that we are never alone. Transformation helps us to love the mystery.

And when everything seems dark, and we feel alone and helpless, we won't look back, for fear of seeing the changes that have taken place in our soul. We will look ahead. 

We will not fear what happens tomorrow, because yesterday we had someone watching over us. And that same Presence will remain at our side. That Presence will shelter us from suffering. Or It will give us the strength to face it with dignity. We will go farther than we think. We will seek out the place where the morning star is born. And we will be surprised when we get there how much easier it was than we had imagined."

What do you think, loves? Have you read this book? If yes, how will you rate it? 

xx, 

Balot

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Thoughtful Tuesdays: Inspiration

"You are useful when you give inspiration to people." -Paulo Coelho

I have been struggling with my writing as of late. Some call it writer's block. Some call it creative drought. Whatever it is, yes, I have it. For several days now. 

I browsed some articles to research on how to get rid of this halt. These were the tips I got. 

• Change your environment. (But it's so dreary outside!)
• Read a book. (This bed weather is making me sleepy.)
• Exercise. (Uhmm..)

And then, I stumbled upon this - Part 3 of 4 of Paulo's podcast on writing.

"What is inspiration? Inspiration is breathing. You put what is outside inside of you. And then, you expire. So, inspiration is something that everybody has, not only writers... Everybody has, when you do things with love. It is connected with this energy that we don't understand. We can explain, explain, explain, but it is connected with the energy of love.  If you enjoy what you are doing, you're going to be inspired to share it with other people. However, inspiration, you cannot guide inspiration. Inspiration is a boat and you are in this boat, in a sea. So there is this gigantic sea. And your boat is taking you. Inspiration is guiding you. Inspiration is this wind that is guiding you towards your destiny. If you try to guide inspiration, you are lost." -Paulo Coelho

This is actually the first time that I have played a videocast from Paulo's blog and my admiration for this man has been cemented in my life more than ever before. I seriously had goosebumps listening to him.

If you are a close friend, you would know that I adore Coelho. I have all his books, I have read and re-read them more than you can ever imagine. I couldn't pick a favorite Coelho book because I love them all. And yes, one more thing, I trash all my Coelho books. I am really sorry but I do. I only do this to his books. You know what those are?

Yes! Dog-ears! My bad. But what can I do? Too many lines that I love. How can one write so profoundly? Almost every other page? That's crazy! 

I wish that someday my own creative wind will guide me to write something that could give inspiration to other people. In the meantime, please do enjoy listening to my hero as he has inspired me enormously today. 

Check out the first installments of Paulo's videocast on writing below: 

Part  I on Writing

Part II on Writing

Part IV on Writing

xx,

Balot

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Scared to be a housewife

"I was my living my own metaphor. A man sets out on a journey, dreaming of a beautiful or magical place, in pursuit of some unknown treasure. At the end of his journey, the man realizes the treasure was with him the entire time. I was following my Personal Legend, and my treasure was my capacity to write. And I wanted to share this treasure with the whole world." Foreword of The Alchemist 2014 Edition, Paulo Coelho

At four years old, I spent time in a duyan under our mango tree, dreaming to be a writer someday. You see, I grew up in this really small town of less than 25,000 people called Pulupandan (Pulo ng Pandan) and there was really nothing to do. No cable, no Internet. We had a family computer which we gladly shared with almost any kid in the whole block. When my parents gave me some Christmas money, I did not buy toys. I bought books. It was because of those books that I learned how to daydream. And when you daydream a lot, you want to put it on a piece of paper. And so, my love affair for writing began.

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Day 58: Inspirations

"To write a message down transforms it; it becomes visible, palpable and no longer dwells in the space between the speaker and the listener. The message becomes 'heavier', acquires a body of ink and paper (or clay in ancient times) and is supposed to live longer than the person who first spoke it." -Paulo Coelho

I know why I write. It is because I read. I believe that all people who are intoxicated with the love for reading, are also addicted to the lust of writing. There are some who choose to pen it in their journals, and some like me, who has the audicity put it in cyberspace for everyone to see. 

Why? 

I don't know, really. It just makes me happy. And that is a reason good enough for me.

"Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose, or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic and fear which is inherent in a human situation." -Graham Greene

xx,

Corporate Junkie

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Nuggets of Wisdom

I came across this content from Paulo Coelho's blog and found some references to the original author. Lovely piece of work. I just needed to repost :)

I Have Learned by Octavian Paler

We have time …

We have time for everything
To sleep, or to be all over the place,
To regret mistakes and do them again,
To judge others and find excuses for ourselves,

We have time to read and write,
To correct our writings, and regret what we wrote,

We have time to make plans and never complete them,

We have time to fantasize about impossible things and later on to look into the ashes of them.

We have time for ambitions and diseases,
To blame fate and the details,

We have time to watch the clouds, TV commercials and shocking news,

We have time to not answer questions,
To postpone the answers,

We have time to kill a dream and recreate it later

We have time to make friends, and lose them

We have time to get lessons and forget them later on,

We have time to get gifts and not understand them.

We have time for everything.

But we don’t have time for a little kindness.
When one does they are dying.

I learned some important things in my life and I would like to share them with you.

I learned that you can not make somebody love you. All you can do is to be a lovely person, the rest … depends on others.

I learned that it does not matter how much I care, others don’t.

I learned that it takes years to win somebody’s trustand it takes just a few seconds to lose it.

I learned that doesn’t matter what you HAVE in life; all that matters is with WHOM you have it.

I learned that in the first 15 min you can impress somebody by using your charm
after that you have to come up with something smart.

I learned that you don’t have to compare yourself with what other people are best at you have to find out what is your best.

I learned that it does not matter what happens to people what matters is what I can do to help.

I learned that each episode has two faces.

I learned you should part lovingly from those you love. It may be the last time you have the opportunity to see that person

I learned that you can run a long time after you said that you are exhausted.

I learned that heroes are people who do the right thing when it is needed, not caring about the consequences.

I learned that there are people that love you but they do not know how to show it.

I learned that when I am upset I have the right to be upset but I do not have the right to be mean.

I learned that you can have long distance friendships; the same applies to love.

I learned that if somebody does not love you like you wish, it does not mean he or she does not love you from the bottom of their heart. He or she will occasionally hurt you and you will forgive it.

I learned that it is not enough to forgive others sometimes you have to forgive yourself.

I learned that regardless how much you are suffering the world will not stop.

I learned that your past can have an impact on your personality but you are responsible for what you are going to become.

I learned that, if two people get into a fight, it does not mean they do not love each other and the fact that they do not fight does not mean they love each other.

I learned that sometimes you have to put the person first and not their actions.

I learned that two people can see different sides of the same incident.

I learned that indifferent of the consequences those who are honest with themselves are the winners in life.

I learned that your life can be changed by strangers in a few hours.

I learned that when you think you have nothing to give your friend can call for help, and you will find the strength to help him

I learned that talking and writing can help to heal your pain.

I learned that you spend too little time with people you love the most…

I learned that is very hard to know when to be nice so you do not hurt people but you still sustain your opinions

I learned to love so I can be loved in return.

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The Lost Wonder of Banaue

“The Lord often has his prophets climb mountains to converse with Him. I always wondered why He did that, and now I know the answer: when we are on high, we can see everything else as small. Our glory and sadness lose their importance. Whatever we conquered or lost remains there below. From the heights of the mountain, you see how large the world is, and how wide its horizons.” - Paulo Coelho, The Fifth Mountain


It's one thing to do the things that you love and another thing to actually get paid for it. That is why I could not be happier and more grateful that my work makes me do the things that I love. 

For example, I get to visit places that I have never been to before; meet really cool people; and most of all, create a difference in other peoples' lives.

Last year, we were introduced to the Ifugaos when Mr. John Chua intiated a project to save one of the heritage sites, the Batad Rice Terraces, from the endangered list of UNESCO. 

Together with around 200 employees and volunteers, we went to ground zero and cleared rocks that destroyed the terraces from past typhoons and landslide. Hand in hand, the Ifugaos and people from Manila worked together for a common cause. It was amazing!

This experience was truly an entry to my bucket list having to ride on top of the jeepney which squeezed its way to a narrow, steep mountain cliffs and trek a challenging route for more than an hour.

Breathtaking. Photo by PJ Enriquez

Last month, I went back to Banaue together with my colleagues and volunteer photographers to carry out another worthy mission. It was another trip to remember. 

We took an eight-hour trip on an Ohayami bus going to Banaue (if you are interested to visit the terraces, you can go there via this transit - visit www.ohayamitrans.com). We left at around ten in the evening to avoid the traffic and arrived in Banaue at six in the morning. We stayed in Banaue Hotel for two days, the same hotel where we were housed a year ago.

I personally experienced the Ifugao culture and met so many wonderful people in Banaue. The trek, although easier than the one we had on our first year, gave us a hard time especially when we had to brave thunderstorms, heavy rains and lighting on our way back. At the end of the day, however, the expedition was grueling but very rewarding.

Yes, haggard after a 30-minute trek. Haha! Photo by PJ Enriquez

Oh yeah. This Ifugao dance I used to perform when I was in elementary. Photo by PJ Enriquez

Looks like an easy trek? I wish :) Photo by PJ Enriquez

And as if the challenging  trek was not enough -- we had to lose to the tug-of-war against the Ifugao women. Haha.       Photo by PJ Enriquez

This experience has made me realize a lot of things. 

First, to be always grateful that we are given the chance to experience the natural wonders that God has made. 

Second, to be thankful in meeting people from other cultures and learning to appreciate their ways. 

Last, (this realization came amidst the heavy rains and scary lightnings while walking barefoot on the pilapil with my heavy bag wrapped in plastic), that challenges will come along the way but we will still persevere and come out okay once we put our faith and heart into it. 

So that's Banaue for me, ladies and gentlemen.

Goodnight everyone. 

xx, 
Corporate Junkie

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Always be my Paulo

AN EXCERPT FROM ALEPH --

"I love you," I tell her. "I love you because all the loves in the world are like different rivers flowing into the same lake, where they meet and are transformed into a single love that becomes rain and blesses the earth.

"I love you like a river that creates the right conditions for trees and bushes and flowers to flourish along its banks. I love you like a river that gives water to the thirsty and takes people where they want to go.a

"I love you like a river that understands that it must learn to flow differently over waterfalls and to rest in the shallows. I love you because we are all born in the same place, at the same source, which keeps us provided with constant supply of water. And so, when we feel weak, all we have to do is wait a little. The spring returns, and the winter snows melt and fill us with new energy.

a

"I love you like a river that begins as a solitary trickle in the mountains and gradually grows and joins other rivers until, after a certain point, it can flow around any obstacle in order to get where it wants.

"I receive your love, and I give you mine. Not the love of a man for a woman, not the love of a father for a child, not the love of God for his creatures, but a love with no name and no explanation, like a river that cannot explain why it follows a particular course but simply flows onward. A love that asks for nothing and gives nothing in return; it is simply there."

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Loving Unconditionally

"I am going to sit here with you by the river. If you go home to sleep, I will sleep in front of your house. And if you go away, I will follow you — until you tell me to go away. Then I'll leave. But I have to love you for the rest of my life." - Paulo Coelho

There are many forms of love. There are four kinds according to C.S. Lewis in his book The Four Loves -- Storge, Philia, Eros and Agape. Storge means affection often existing among family members and relatives; Philia for friendship; Eros for romance and Agape is a love that brings forth caring regardless the circumstance.

Today, I have come to discover that unconditional love resides in me despite my consistent nonchalance, my "no-reply" to texts or my pure lack of showing emotions and concern. In my life, there are certain people who I love in this unfathomable way. 

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Haters Gonna Hate

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Phobic

“Don’t bother trying to explain your emotions. Live everything as intensely as you can and keep whatever you felt as a gift from God. The best way to destroy the bridge between the visible and invisible is by trying to explain your emotions.” -Paulo Coelho, Brida

Emotion, despite having lots of it, paralyzes me when it comes from other people. I cringe when someone shares with me their happiness or devastation or whatever comes in between. It's not that I cannot empathize. I do. I just do not know how to deal with it.

I always believe that I am a sucker for emotions. I am a bipolar nutcase. I can go from being ecstatic to totally depressed in a short span of time. Maybe it's the distribution of my hormones, I really don't know. However, these emotions are kept at bay, just lurking at the recesses of my room. I could not even discuss these feelings with friends. I trust them, there is no question in that, but I always feel that it is too much drama putting it out there (save for the few times that the cup ran over). And then, there is that risk of exposure. Too much exposure of one's vulnerability. 

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Changes

"People want to change everything and, at the same time, want it all to remain the same." – Paulo Coelho

This year has been a rollercoaster of change -- a lot of firsts in my personal and professional life. I was able to visit Beijing and Japan for the first time. The latter, a little more significant since Japanese culture has intrigued me since I was a small girl. I was assigned to my first stint outside of marketing. I got married. First and last, I pray. Wink! June 17, 2012 was one of the happiest, if not the perfect moment of my life. Shortly a month after, I got a positive pregnancy result. Yet, a day after, we lost it all too soon. First married life heartbreak.

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Decision. Indecision.

"There is always a right moment to act." - Aleph, Paulo Coelho

The month of March in my Paulo Coelho Day Planner is all dedicated to decision or making decisions, for that matter. Funny because it seems to be a very apt moment for me to be lectured on these things. 

I always believe in being at the right moment at the right time and somehow, this is another manifestation of it. In my life, there are decisions that I have been postponing to do. For what reason? I do not know. Maybe because of fear. Fear of regret or fear of not being able to stand by what I have decided upon; or simply because I linger in the idea that 

everything works out well in the end anyway and I do not really need to rush anything. 

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