We all need inspiration from time to time.
At least, I know that I do. There are so many wise sayings, so many books and last, but not least, so many friends that has inspired me and made me think my life over, time and time again.

Not that that has made me any wiser, some of you will shurly say, but who's to know, I might have been an ever bigger fool without all my reading and thinking :-)

I also know, that when the going gets tough, and I sometimes wonder if it's worth it, that's what keeps me going. The thought that there is a meaning somewhere in all this struggeling, that maybe someone's trying to teach me something, that I, after all, might be a little bit wiser and that I may become more understanding and reflective.
I do believe we learn from our faults and our hardship, and I know we do learn to be better friends, and hopefully better judges of what is really important in life.

Ever read a book called "O Alquimista" (Alkymisten) by Paulo Coello?

If you haven't, and you'r facinated by the mystery of life, I highly recomend it.
I have never in my life read so small a book so full of wisdom.
I will recite below a fine story from the book. Read and learn:

The Droplets.
Once upon a time, a merchant sendt his son to the wisest amongst men, to reveal the secret of happiness. After travelling through the desert for 40 days, the boy finally reached a beautiful castle on top of a mountain. That was the home of the wise man the boy sought.

Our hero had imagined the wise man to be a saint, an hermitt, but instead entered a hall with a buzzing life; merchants came and went, people stood along the walls talking, a small orchestra played beautiful music, and in the middle of the room there was a table with most delicious dishes from that particular part of the world.
The wise man talked to everyone, and the boy had to wait for two whole hours till it was his turn to be heard.

The wise man listened carefully while the boy explained the purpose of his visit. When he was through, the wise man said that unfortunately he did not have the time to explain the secret of happiness to him right there and then. He told the boy to take a walk throughout the castle and come back two hours later.
- Before you go, I want to ask you a favour, the wise man said, and handeled the boy a spoon that he filled with two drops of oil.
- When you walk around, make shure you hold this spoon without spilling a drop of the oil.

The boy wandered up and down the broad steps of the castle with his eyes locked to the spoon. Two hours later he went back to the wise man.

- Well, said the wise man, - have you seen all the persian rugs on the wall of my dininghall? Did you see the gardens my gardenmasters spendt ten years making? Did you notice the beautiful scrolls in my library?
Full of shame, the boy had to admitt that he had missed all of it. He had consentratet on one thing only, not to spill the drops of oil that the wise man had given him.

- Then go back, and study all the treasures my world contains, said the wise man. You can't trust a man if you don't know his house.
The boy, who had managed to fall at ease, took the spoon and toured the castle once more, this time noticing all the artworks on the walls hanging down from the roof. He saw the gardens, the mountains around, the marvel of the flowers, how excuisit every peace of art was arranged according to each other.
When he once again stood before the wise man, he told him about everything he had seen.
- But where are the two drops of oil that I gave you? he asked.
The boy looked down at the spoon and saw that he had spilled them.
- This is my only advice to you, said the wise man.
- The secret of happiness means admiring all the beauty of the world, without ever forgetting the two drops of oil in the spoon.

So, what do you make out of that?
As I see it, the two drops of oil is your loved ones, your responsibility towards others and yourself. Carry them with you wherever you go, physically or in your heart.
But never neglect, never mistreat - and never forget.

Then again we could ask - what is the most difficult - being able to do so, or being the one to give total freedom and trust to your loved one to go out into the world and carry his life in a spoon - that is, you in his heart.

Is trust something you earn - or is it a right we all have?
You tell me...

 

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."
-- Nelson Mandela