All posts tagged Paulo Coelho:
The Story of the Pencil
Published:December 19, 2009
Source: Like the Flowing River by Paulo Coelho
A boy was watching his grandmother write a letter. At one point he asked:
‘Are you writing a story about what we’ve done? Is it a story about me?’
His grandmother stopped writing her letter and said to her grandson:
I am writing about you, actually, but more important than the words is the pencil I’m using. I hope you will be like this pencil when you grow up.’
Intrigued, the boy looked at the pencil. It didn’t seem very special.
‘But it’s just like any other pencil I’ve ever seen!’
‘That depends on how you look at things. It has five qualities which, if you manage to hang on to them, they will make you a person who is always at peace with the world.’
‘First quality: you are capable of great things, but you must never forget that there is a hand guiding your steps. We call that hand God, and He always guides us according to His will.’
‘Second quality: now and then, I have to stop writing and use a sharpener. That makes the pencil suffer a little, but afterward, it’s much sharper. So you, too, must learn to bear certain pains and sorrows, because they will make you a better person.
‘Third quality: the pencil always allows us to use an eraser to rub out any mistakes. This means that correcting something we did is not necessarily a bad thing; it helps to keep us on the road to justice.’
‘Fourth quality: what really matters in a pencil is not its wooden exterior, but the graphite inside. So always pay attention to what is happening inside you.’
‘Finally, the pencil’s fifth quality: it always leaves a mark. in just the same way, you should know that everything you do in life will leave a mark, so try to be conscious of that in your every action’
Got Dixon Ticonderoga No.2 ?!
From my friend, my idol, Paulo Coelho:
“Dear readers,
I wish to make a virtual exhibition for the 100 Million Copies sold. And invite you to participate.
Based on an idea that I saw in an exhibition in Aviles - dedicated to the 20th anniversary of my book The Alchemist -
I would like to extend it to the virtual space and invite you to take part.
The idea of this physical exhibition that I saw in Aviles (and that will be reproduced in Milan this week) is the following:
a reader would pose for a picture holding his/her favorite book of mine.
Please then take a picture of yourself holding your favorite book of mine and send to us.
You should include in your email your name and country and send it to the following email address:
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (don’t worry about the quality).
My team will be up-loading the pictures in this page throughout the year.
Love
Paulo”
100 million inspiring, moving, provocative books authored by the ‘Crazy Magician.’ Mr. Coelho has conquered every continent, not with the sword, but with the well chosen word. As one who gifts Paulo’s classic book, ‘The Alchemist’ at every opportunity, I can personally vouch for the fact that his books change lives. A hearty congratulations to you, Sir, and I am confident that 200 million is right around the corner!
And one more thing: if you have - and I know that you do - a Coelho classic, take a digi photo and send it to the email address above and become a part of Paulo’s beautiful, global quilt.
What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!
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