Love life - Rhonda Bryne's The Power

Recently I was running out of books to read. But then I realized I still got a book that I haven't read in my computer. I almost forgot about it. It is "The Power" by Rhonda Bryne. It is considered to be the sequel to another more popular book of the same author, "The Secret". My friend Yogesh sent me this when I was hitting the lowest point of my life. 

But at that time, I didn't want to read it. I know exactly what the book is about. It is a motivational book. For me, I had never read this kind of books. I used to think that no one needed this kind of book, like "The Secret" or "The Chicken Soup for the Soul", and that they were meant for the 'mentally weak'. I used to think that I can stand up on my own after falling down, for I am a Man.

I was so wrong, and had never been so wrong before. As a famous quote says,

The strength of women is the pretense of weakness; the weakness of men is the pretense of strength.

So as I read through the book, like exactly what I thought, plain English and filled with almost prejudiced lines, such as 'You know you can do this', 'Imagine the best, keep thinking positively', bla bla bla... But this is exactly how it needed to be. The word 'love' is mentioned millions times in the book, so many times that it has became a little cheesy. But guess what, it should be like this! I also used to think that, the word 'love' shouldn't be said that much for it to be precious and special. But what the hell! We should say 'love' more!

Waited so long for me to pick up the book, I guess the moment I pick up the book, sit down and read it, I think I am already ready to love again. So thx Yogesh for your book!

Whenever the word 'love' comes across me, I can't help myself not think of my ex. She gave me a note when we moved to different towns, and I still keep it until now, the only thing from her that remains. She always has this positive attitude against problems upon her. She normally just smiles the problems away, the smile that I want to learn. 

Love life!!!

How the Sleeper in the valley died - Blood Diamond and Total Eclipse

I read the poem of Arthur Rimbaud "Le Dormeur du Val" after watching the "Blood Diamond", I just can't help myself not to think that Danny Archer is the Sleeper. 

This is my favorite scene of the movie, when Danny is going to die and phones to Maddy. After the phone call, he sits on hill side, facing a valley, with sun bathing on him, and slowly dying of bullet shot. This is so like the poem. Rimbaud never mentioned how the sleeper died, but I prefer to think that this is how the sleeper died. It seems like the director had read this poem before.

The funny thing is Leonardo Dicaprio acted as Arthur Rimbaud before, in the movie "Total Eclipse".

This poem is the first poem I have read about a dead body. I was shocked but impressed when read it for the first time. This is also the first Rimbaud's poem I read. So, allow me to copy "Le Dormeur du Val" onto my blog :

< Le Dormeur du Val >

C'est un trou de verdure où chante une rivière,

Accrochant follement aux herbes des haillons

D'argent; où le soleil, de la montagne fière,

Luit : c'est un petit val qui mousse de rayons.

Un soldat jeune, bouche ouverte, tête nue,

Et la nuque baignant dans le frais cresson bleu,

Dort; il est étendu dans l'herbe, sous la nue,

Pâle dans son lit vert où la lumière pleut.

Les pieds dans les glaïeuls, il dort. Souriant comme

Sourirait un enfant malade, il fait une somme : 

Nature, berce-le chaudement : il a froid.

Les parfums ne font pas frissonner sa narine;

Il dort dans le soleil, la main sur sa poitrine,

Tranquille. Il a deux trous rouges au côté droit.

- Arthur Rimbaud -

Insomnia during a snowing night

Winter is harsh. Snow is beautiful only if it is seen by the one who is in his comfort zone. Watching the snow falling while sitting inside a warm building with a hot drink is of course very enjoyable. Or may be even go outside to play with the snow with all your thick warm clothes on. It is fun only because once you get cold, you can always get back to warm whenever you want to. 

Many of us have a house. Many but not all. Some don't even have a shelter. I cannot imagine how those SDF survive the cold winter each year. Whenever the weather get cold, I can't help myself not to think about the fact that somebody is suffering because of the cold, or even dying. But I still don't take any action yet, to actually help those people. So in the end I am just like many other people, sitting in our comfort zone and do nothing about it.

The coming winter will be my fifth winter. I always prefer it snows rather than getting colder and colder but without snow. I always feel not that cold whenever it snows, which is a funny thing to think about.