The Magic Instant

By Paolo Coelho

"We have to take risks. We can only truly understand the miracle of life when we let the unexpected manifest itself.

Every day – together with the sun – God gives us a moment in which it is possible to change everything that makes us unhappy. Every day we try to pretend that we don’t realize that moment, that it doesn’t exist, that today is just the same as yesterday and will be the same as tomorrow. But if you pay attention, you can discover the magic instant. It may be hiding at the moment when we put the key in the door in the morning, in the silence right after dinner, in the thousand and one things that all seem the same to us. This moment exists – a moment when all the strength of the stars passes through us and lets us work miracles.

Happiness is at times a blessing – but usually it’s a conquest. The magic instant helps us to change, drives us forward to seek our dreams. We shall suffer and go through quite a few difficult moments and face many a disappointment – but this is all transitory and inevitable, and eventually we shall feel proud of the marks left behind by the obstacles. In the future we will be able to look back with pride and faith.

Poor are those who are afraid of running risks. Because maybe they are never disappointed, never disillusioned, never suffer like those who have a dream to pursue. But when they look back – for we always look back – they will hear their heart saying: “What did you do with the miracles that God sowed for your days? What did you do with the talent that your Master entrusted to you? You buried it deep in a grave because you were afraid to lose it. So this is your inheritance: the certainty that you have wasted your life.”

Poor are those who hear these words. For then they will believe in miracles, but the magic instants of life will have already passed.

We must listen to the child that we once were, and who still lives within us. This child understands about magic instants. We can muffle his sobbing, but we can’t hush his voice.

If we aren’t reborn, if we don’t see life again with the innocence and enthusiasm of childhood, then there is no more sense to living.

There are many ways to commit suicide. Those who try to kill their body offend God’s law.

Those who try to kill their soul also offend God’s law, although their crime is less visible to the eyes of man.

Let us be heedful of what the child within us has to say. Let’s not feel ashamed of it. Let’s not allow it to feel afraid, because it’s lonely and is scarcely ever heard.

Let’s allow the child within us to take the reins of our existence a little. This child says that one day is different from another.

Let’s make the child feel loved again. Let’s please this child – even if it means acting in a way that we’re not used to, even if it seems foolish in the eyes of others.

Remember that the wisdom of men is madness before God. If we listen to the child we bear in our soul, our eyes will shine once more. If we don’t lose contact with this child, we won’t lose contact with life.

Let’s live all the magic instants of 2009!

Love

There is always someone in the world waiting for someone else, whether in the middle of the desert or in the heart of some big city. And when these two people’s paths cross and their eyes meet, the whole of the past and the whole of the future lose all importance, and there only exists that moment and that incredible certainty that everything under the Sun was written by the very same Hand. The Hand that awakens Love and creates a sister soul for everyone who works, rests and seeks treasures under the Sun. Were it not for this, the dreams of the human race would make no sense.

http://paulocoelhoblog.com/warrioroflight

Pretty Peony

Yes, It's Been a Month!

I have a new toy... a beautiful Canon EOS Rebel xsi And I'm learning to use all the bells and whistles!

Today we went to the historic St. Lawrence Market in downtown Toronto. The first job I remember my dad ever having was in this wonderful old market. He was a butcher here and I still remember the smell of the sawdust they used to soak up the blood and other drippings on the floor. I looked everywhere today but couldn't find any sawdust anywhere.

These beautiful smoked bones caught my eye- such interesting shapes!

Red Star Monument

In the middle of nowhere... a monument remembering the heroes of long long ago.

There are countless monuments of this type scattered all around Albania and they fascinate me to no end. I think I'm going to look for more.

Oh Yes!

This is pretty intense but Ohhhhhhhh it IS what poetry should be!

Spring Has Sprung!

The Real Beauty of Berat, Albania

The Secret's Out!

Hummmmm.... I think it's time to let you all in on a little secret----- we just finished MOVING house-- yes -- again!!! We're still in Tirana but after two years in a cold house we decided to find somewhere else to live and so we are now VERY happily living in an awesome new apartment in the city. It's wonderful and we feel so at home here. I'm still unpacking --anyone interested in a HUGE collection of baseball/hockey cards??? -- (just kidding P!).

Today is the wonderful Albanian holiday called "Summer Day" and the streets are full of happy people enjoying the warm sunshine.

I'll post a photo or two later today. Now I'm off to unpack a few more boxes.

Just Give a Straight Answer!

Go read Chelsi's post and then come back here :)

I just want to add a couple more of these interesting conversations that happen in Albania...

1. "Your dog must have been expensive. How much did it cost?"

2. Regarding a gorgeous (mid 30's) Albanian friend: "Oh she (pointing at my friend) USED to be really sexy when she was young!"

3. Sitting at coffee with about 5 Albanian ladies: " Eda- you really need to colour your hair., it's ugly like that." And Eda has lovely salt & pepper natural hair colour.

4. Still at coffee with my Albanian friends: "She used to be so slim but now she is too fat." Said in the presence of the friend.

5. Two Albanian friends: "So Anna, how much do you weigh?" "55 kilos." "Nooooooo you can NOT weigh less than I do and I weigh 56 kilos!!!!!" (Astounded). Then they both stand up and touch each other's waists etc, making minute comparisons about all their measurements. They twirl around for everyone else to check them out as if it was a real competition. In the end one claims to have bigger boobs and must just look fatter.

6. How much is your rent? How much is your car? How much is your salary? Etc, etc. Nothing is sacred- Albanians just need to know the price of everything!!

Now, there's another problem. You can tell them the EXACT cost of everything and they DO NOT understand!! Foreigners are annoyed to no end by this. You see, MANY years ago - I don't know maybe 30??? - the government revalued the currency and everything got an extra zero. For some reason, ALL Albanians have refused to give up the old system, but ALL foreigners only use it. So if they say something cost 100 Lek, like a 1 Litre bottle of Coke for instance- you will be shocked (like I was) thinking that is way too much to pay for a coke (about $10) They actually mean about $1. But believe me, they're not trying to rip you off, they just can't grasp the new numbers. Even school children do this!

So, when you are asked the cost of something, don't worry about it. Just tell the truth and they'll be confused anyway!

The Kids of Shkodra, Albania

Do you think YOUR kids would be so happy to go to the cabbage patch on a chilly day in February and pick a wheel barrow full of questionable looking cabbages, and then push them all the way home across the river and up a very steep hill?

It's Carnival time and these boys are still celebrating! Aren't they adorable?

I wonder what these boys are discussing on their way home from school? No school buses for these kids.... they have a long walk home in the cold.

And the girls- like kids everywhere these days-- carry backpacks heavy with books!

Oh Happy Day!

My birthday lunch with my wonderful hubby Peter... and a very creative photo which he took of me basking in the weird and funky 'stained glass' sunshine streaming in through the windows...

Then off to the French Bakery where my girlies were gathering to share my day with me...

Oh I received such beautiful cards... almost everyone was handmade...

And some wonderful, and truly thoughtful presents...

...new palette knives from Jean, my left-hand painting partner...

And a new book that looks really delicious... (Thank you Jean!)

And look at this one! A perfect book for me and Lily to read together! Big thanks to Evelyne!



And this one is awesome! I adore Transylvania (having lived in Romania for 5 fabulous years) and my Transylvanian Princess girlfriend Iza-the-Bella somehow found this book that I am going to read from cover to cover... (Oh thank YOU Iza!)...

My adorable friend Sundus must know how much I love to sing in the car and gave me this disk of memories... (thank you Sundus... you made my day!)

And Elham, my spiritual sister completely thrilled me with these "Virtue Stones" which she handpainted with the letters of my name. Now I am to think of a virtue for each letter and think about it and practise it each week.... oh where I will go with these magical stones! (Thank you Elham-- for bringing magic to my day).

Now Sweet Sam really amazed me with her gift.... a dozen delectable homemade miniature mincemeat tarts!! I missed these at Christmas and she remembered that I told her I loved them... (Thank you Sam for making me feel special)...

And the sweet Chelsi and her lovely friend Ikuko, who gave me a colouring book and chocolates, and a charming handmade Japanese crane!

(Thank you for giving me things that bring me bliss!)

Oh and the flowers!

Bunches of gorgeous flowers-- Tiger Lilies ("our special flowers") from my SoulMate and best friend/lover/husband, Peter the Great...

And one perfect rose from Annette, my wise and wonderful friend and painting mentor.

And CAKES! Oh we had cakes all day long! A red heart cake, a white chocolate cake and another one of my soul sisters made me a huge tray of the bestest brownies ever!

(Mary that was so incredibly thoughtful of YOU!)

Big birthdays like this one (oh can I honestly already be 50???????), always make me feel very, very panicky. I have to hold back the tears. Life has been good to me and I never want it to end. You know what I mean?

But not a tear was shed yesterday. No not one.

Thanks to my wonderful, wonderful girlfriends (and my hubby).

And to all those who sent me greetings on Facebook-

I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!!!

Thank you for being part of my life and for honouring my special day.

(I had a GREAT one!)

Love,

Kim

Albanian Daffodils

I have a couple of reasons to toot my own horn this week:

One of my photos from last week's daytrip to a small Albanian village is now being hightighted on a lovely website all about daffodils. Who knew there was a site devoted only to these delightful spring flowers?? Go check out my photo-  Daffodils in Krajen, Albania . I guess my photography course is already having good results!

And last week another website asked to use two of my older photos which I took during our driving trip through Italy 2 years ago. Italy's finest bottled water, San Pellegrino/Aqua Panna has quite a lovely website where they post interesting articles about Italian culture. Right now there is a good one about one of Italy's best-known architects, Andreo Palladio.  We stayed in a gorgeous old hotel in Mogliano Veneto called Villa Condulmer and at the time we were unaware of it's amazing history. You can see two of my photos used in the article- they are in the 3rd and 4th rows from the bottom.

I think I'm almost ready for a new camera :)

The Shepherdess and Her Sheep

Near Lezhe, Albania

Signs of Spring in Krajen, Albania

No Need for a Guard Dog!

I have no idea why.... but there were hundreds of discarded wine bottles all around the generator outside the restaurant where we had lunch yesterday. One idea... it would definitely prevent anyone from tampering with or stealing fuel from the generator. There'd be no way to get near it without making a very loud noise!

And Also Read ~~ Gezuar!

Here's another link to someone who is living in Albania and writing about her experience. This is really a fascinating blog because the woman is a black American attending university right here in Tirana. Go read Gezuar and you'll be enlightened about this awesome country as seen through the eyes of a very aware anthropologist.

Vagabonds in Albania!

Thanks to A Nevada Yankee in King Zogs Court for sharing a link to a truly awesome blog today.

If you love great travel writing, go take a look at Vagabond Journey where Monday's post will take you on a harrowing minivan ride over some Albanian mountains. Everything he writes is honestly what it is like. He has several posts just about Albania but he is a modern vagabond and is traveling all over the world. I'll surely be following his blog from now on!