Reflections on Manuscript Found in Accra

                                              
                                               Reflections on Manuscript Found in Accra


                                                                   

Manuscript Found in Accra is a novel by Paulo Coehlo. In this novel, a town is about to go to war where many will lose their lives and the town will most likely be destroyed beyond repair. The night before the war, the town gathers around a wise man who recounts stories, gives advice and encourages the villagers to have hope in the face of possible annihilation.

Below I'll write My reflections on some of the most meaningful lines I read.

"In the cycle of nature there is no such thing as victory or defeat: there is only movement"

"Only he who gives up is defeated- everyone else is victorious"

I love these quotes because they bring me peace. Some people let problems bog them down and consume them but being solution oriented and realizing that this too shall pass will help us survive through these moments because life is never quiet. Life is plagued by one challenge after the other and in the face of these challenges we have to realize that we might stop to rest but we most continue moving forward.

"If you are never alone, you cannot know yourself"

We live in a society where being alone is frowned upon. You are seen as desperate or undesirable. It's not true obviously. I completely agree that if you are never alone you cannot know yourself. Loneliness leads to reflection, to the unselfish pursue of our desires and to the discovery of who we really are. Being in relationship with others is an exercise in compromise and you make so many compromises you forget who you really are and what your true desires are.

"Solitude is not the absence of company, but the moment when our soul is free to speak to us and help us decide what to do with our lives"

People fear solitude because of what they might discover they are when they are alone. We use other people as distractions to shield us from facing the truths about ourselves.

"Dreaming carries no risks. The dangerous thing is trying to transform your dreams into reality"

We crave comfort and familiarity and we pass up adventures for fear of what nasty surprise might await us. But what about the rewards? The joyful possibilities that can lead to more happiness?