Manual for climbing mountains by Paulo Coelho
A] Choose the mountain you want to climb: don't pay
attention to what other people say, such as "that
one's more beautiful" or "this one's easier". You'll
be spending lots of energy and enthusiasm to reach
your objective, so you're the only one responsible and
you should be sure of what you’re doing.
B] Know how to get close to it: mountains are often
seen from far off '“ beautiful, interesting, full of
challenges. But what happens when we try to draw
closer? Roads run all around them, flowers grow
between you and your objective, what seemed so clear
on the map is tough in real life. So try all the paths
and all the tracks until eventually one day you're
standing in front of the top that you yearn to reach.
C] Learn from someone who has already been up there:
no matter how unique you feel, there is always someone
who has had the same dream before you and ended up
leaving marks that can make your journey easier;
places to hang the rope, trails, broken branches to
make the walking easier. The climb is yours, so is the
responsibility, but don't forget that the experience
of others can help a lot.
D] When seen up close, dangers are controllable: when
you begin to climb the mountain of your dreams, pay
attention to the surroundings. There are cliffs, of
course. There are almost imperceptible cracks in the
mountain rock. There are stones so polished by storms
that they have become as slippery as ice. But if you
know where you are placing each footstep, you will
notice the traps and how to get around them.
E] The landscape changes, so enjoy it: of course, you
have to have an objective in mind “ to reach the top.
But as you are going up, more things can be seen, and
it's no bother to stop now and again and enjoy the
panorama around you. At every meter conquered, you can
see a little further, so use this to discover things
that you still had not noticed.
F] Respect your body: you can only climb a mountain if
you give your body the attention it deserves. You have
all the time that life grants you, as long as you walk
without demanding what can't be granted. If you go too
fast you will grow tired and give up half way there.
If you go too slow, night will fall and you will be
lost. Enjoy the scenery, take delight in the cool
spring water and the fruit that nature generously
offers you, but keep on walking.
G] Respect your soul: don't keep repeating "I'm going
to make it". Your soul already knows that, what it
needs is to use the long journey to be able to grow,
stretch along the horizon, touch the sky. An obsession
does not help you at all to reach your objective, and
even ends up taking the pleasure out of the climb. But
pay attention: also, don't keep saying "it's harder
than I thought", because that will make you lose your
inner strength.
H] Be prepared to climb one kilometer more: the way up
to the top of the mountain is always longer than you
think. Don't fool yourself, the moment will arrive
when what seemed so near is still very far. But since
you were prepared to go beyond, this is not really a
problem.
I] Be happy when you reach the top: cry, clap your
hands, shout to the four winds that you did it, let
the wind - the wind is always blowing up there -
purify your mind, refresh your tired and sweaty feet,
open your eyes, clean the dust from your heart. It
feels so good, what was just a dream before, a distant
vision, is now part of your life, you did it!
J] Make a promise: now that you have discovered a
force that you were not even aware of, tell yourself
that from now on you will use this force for the rest
of your days. Preferably, also promise to discover
another mountain, and set off on another adventure.
L] Tell your story: yes, tell your story! Give your
example. Tell everyone that it's possible, and other
people will then have the courage to face their own
mountains.
