The Valkyries and a Decision

I finished "The Valkyries" sometime back. Thats one of Paulo Coelho's books that is quite obtuse.. He talks of magic, rituals, talking to angels etc... But (one of) the point he is trying to make is - "people end up destroying whatever good they have created" and the root cause of that is "something that happened in one's childhood and a decision they made based on what they thought had happened".. That decision would guide them into the wrong for the rest of their life.

Let me try to explain from my own life... For example, when I was a kid (dont remember the age, but definitely less than 10 yrs old) my mom told me the story of one of her nephews. This guy was very brilliant. He topped his school in studies and sports and what not. His parents sold their possessions to allow him to study in an engineering college (Salem engg college).

He topped all his college exams too.. He got his job through campus placement and was all set to join one of the top companies of India after his graduation. Just a day before his final set of exams, he died from brain fever. It all happened within a day and his parents couldnt even be by his side when he died. They were left totally shattered.

When I heard this story (and witnessed a couple of other incidents, normal worldly incidents like death in the family), I made a decision. The decision was something like I will not be the best. 'Cos if I am the best, I would die.

This decision, made by a kid, had been running my life. And I was not even aware that it was running my life. But if you know me, you can see a pattern in my life. A series of ups and downs, ebbs and troughs.

But when I realised that this is one of the decisions that has been governing my life, and when I 'broke the pact', I got my power back. Now I need no longer be governed by a 7 year old kid. I got the freedom. I can chart my own life. And I can even talk about it!!

This book is supposed to be based on Paulo's real life. Thanks Paulo for letting me into your secrets and letting me rechart my life!!