Wise words by Coelho Part 1 - taken from "Like the Flowing River"

I've just finished reading one of Paulo Coelho's lastest works, Like the Flowing River, which is a collection of articles, essays and such buch a great read and I will be putting some of the excerpts that touched me the most on here for you to have a read

STATUTES FOR THE NEW MILENNIUM

1. We are all different, and should do what we can to remain so
2. Each human being was given two possibilities: action and contemplation. Both lead to the same place
3. Each human being was give two qualities: power and the gift. Power directs us towards our destiny, teh gift obliges us to share with others what is best in us
4. Each human being was given a virtue: the ability to choose. Anyone who fails to use this virtue transforms it into a curse, and others will choose for them.
5. Each human being has his or her own sexual identity and should be able to exercise that identity without guilt as long as they do not force that sexual identity on to others.
6. Every human being has a personal legend to be fulfilled, and this is our reason for being in the world. This personal legend manifests itself in our enthusiasm for the task.
7. On can abandon one's personal legend for a time, as long as one does not forget about it entirely and returns to it as soon as possible
8. Every man has a feminine side, and every woman a masculine side. It is important to use discipline with intuition and to use intuition with objectivity.
9. Every human being should know two languages: the language of society and the language of signs. One serves to communicate with other people, the other serves to understand God's messages.
10. Every human being has the right to search for happiness, and by 'happiness' is meant something that makes that individual feel content, not necessarily something that makes other people feel content
11. Every human being should keep alive within them the sacred flame of madness, but should behave as a normal person
12. Only the following items should be considered to be grave faults: not respecting another's rights, allowing ourself to be paralysed by fear, feeling guilty, believing that one does not deserve the good or ill that happens in one's life, being a coward. We will love our enemies but not make alliances with them. They were placed in our path in order to test our sword, and we should, out of respect for them, struggle against them. We will choose our enemies.
13. All religions lead to the same God, and all deserve the same respect. Anyone who chooses a religion is also choosing a collective way of worshipping and sharing he mysteries. Nevertheless, that person is the only one responsible for his or her actions along the way and has no right to shift responsibility for any personal decisions on to that religion.
14. It is hereby decreed that the wall separating the sacred and the profane be torn now. From now on, everything is sacred
15. Everything that is done in the present affects the future in the form of consequence and affects the past in the form of redemption
16. All statutes to the contrary are revoked.

Impressive and thoughtful, no?