Feeling Inspired?

There are times when we long to be able to help someone whom we love very much, but we can do nothing. Circumstances will not allow us to approach them, or the person is closed off to any gesture of solidarity and support.
Then all we are left with is love. At such times, when we can do nothing else, we can still love-without expecting any reward or change or gratitude.
If we do this, the energy of love will begin to transform the universe above us. Whenever this energy appears, it always achieves its ends. 'Time does not transform man, Will-power does not transform man. Love transforms,' says Henry Drummond (Scottish writer and lecturer).

...and when all that remains is loneliness, then remember this story...
A rose dreamed day and night about bees, but no bee ever landed on her petals.
The flower, however, continued to dream. During the long nights, she imagined a heaven full of bees, which flew down to bestow fond kisses on her. By doing this, she was able to last until the next day, when she opened again to the light of the Sun.
One night, the moon, who knew of the rose's loneliness, asked. "Aren't you tired of waiting?"
"Possibly, but I have to keep trying."
"Why?"
"Because if I don't remain open, I will simply fade away."

At times, when loneliness seems to crush all beauty, the only way to resist is to remain open.

This is a beautiful excerpt from Paulo Coelho's book "Like the Flowing River" that makes such a powerful point. I wanted to share it with you all because I know you will love it, too.

Hope you all have a wonderful, inspiring Fall weekend! xx      

83 comments:

Reena said...

This is an absolutely beautiful post in words and pictures. And aren't the words so true and wise! Have a great weekend, my friend.

Pat said...

What a beautiful and inspiring poem. Love the photo of the rose in the hand. Thanks for sharing this!

MadSnapper said...

i love that second photo with the two roses... these are all beautiful as are the words.

Mari-Pi-R said...

Gracias por compartir con Paulo Coelho, un escritor al que a todos gusta.
Un abrazo y feliz semana

chica said...

Texto tão lindo e verdadeiro e fotos lindas! beijos,chica

Trac~ said...

Awww I love this poem!! So beautiful! Thanks for sharing and have a great day and fall weekend ahead! :)

TexWisGirl said...

brought a sting of tears to my eyes.

ΑΘΗΝΑ said...

I also believe that love can transform people but sometimes the pain if you miss that love may be harder.

barbara l. hale said...

Inspirational words and gorgeous photos! I really love that second photo. Wonderful!!

Sylvia K said...

Such a beautiful, true and inspiring post, Betty, and what a wonderful reminder to start my day! Thank you!! Hope you have a lovely weekend!!

Lynn said...

Thanks for sharing that, O Wise One! Beautiful.

Angel Corrochano said...

Claro, me resulta inspirador, entre las texturas y los desenfoques me sugieren recuerdos agradables.
Un cordial saludo

tinajo said...

Lovely post!

Unknown said...

A great post full of love Betty.
Have a beautiful weekend.
Costas

Unknown said...

Beautiful post, love the poem.

Ms. A said...

Love with no expectations is a difficult thing to achieve, but I'm learning.

Beautiful post, Betty. Have a great weekend!

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Very beautiful!!!!

Anonymous said...

Me ha encantado este Post y más la referencia al magistral Paulo Coelho y a las sabias Palabras de Henry Drummond.
Un abrazo.

Our Neck of the Woods said...

Wow, so beautiful! We all need to remain open. Thanks for sharing :)

It's me said...

Lovely post!!!!!....love the second picture.....love Ria....xxx

eileeninmd said...

Betty, what a lovely story! Thanks for sharing. I guess we all need to remain open. Beautiful post, have a great weekend!

DIMI said...

Kαλό μήνα Μπέτη!Πολύ όμορφη καί τρυφερή ανάρτηση!Καλό Σ/Κ!
Dimi..

Anonymous said...

yes.


Pictures are great ! Please have a good weekend.

Bitch said...

Dear Betty!

Wise words and as always very wonderful images!!

I hope that you are doing fine, my dear?

Send my hugs and ♥♥♥ (three of those)..

Riot Kitty said...

That is really timely for me, as you know. Thank you! That was absolutely lovely.

Unknown said...

...ciao Betty, il tuo scritto riferito al bravo P.C, parla della solitudine che può essere anche bella, e che tanto si sposa con le tue delicate e soffuse fotografie..grazie per aver condiviso questa gemma di post...un abbraccio...

Cloudia said...

Thank YOU for sharing this healing wisdom



Aloha from Waikiki,
Comfort Spiral

> < } } ( ° >

> < } } (°>

<°)333><( ~

dennistheeremite said...

There are all kinds of people around us with hearts and minds that need mending, and thye don't even know it. Love shows us those hearts and minds and also shows us that, in our selves, we don't have the power to reach in and fix and mend them, but we know God does, and God helps us to watch, and listen, and be ready, and wait for the time we might do something, or wait in the hope that God will do something, in his own time and way.

SquirrelQueen said...

You are right Betty, the excerpt is absolutely beautiful and very inspiring. If we should close ourselves away we would never know what we missed.

ANRAFERA said...

Me ha gustado mucho el extracto que has escogido del gran Paulo Coelho
...hay que permanecer abierto!
Felicitaciones por esta bonita entrada y tus estupendas fotografías, muy bien procesadas.
Cordial saludo y feliz fin de semana.
Ramón

Jesús Castellano said...

Muy inspiradoras imágenes, sobre todo las dos primeras tomas, me gustan.

Saludos.

Unknown said...

πολύ όμορφες εικόνες Μπέτυ μου,όπως και το απόσπασμα του βιβλίου.Τελευταία κυκλοφορούν πολλά μηνύματα αγάπης,και οι άνθρωποι άρχισαν να προσπαθούν να δουν τη ζωή αλλιώς-)))
μπράβο για την όμορφη ανάρτηση
εύχομαι να έχεις ένα χαρούμενο ΣΒΚ
πολλά φιλιά

Sandy said...

Wow...that is beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing it.

Chatty Crone said...

My favorite photo is the second one with the beautiful flowers. sandie

anilkurup59 said...

I loved the words and promptly circulated it. Especially to a person who is in much need.

sky-blu-pink said...

Lovely story! Yes, I really do think that faith, hope and love will look after any situation. One of my friends has had some distressing news health wise, I shall send this to her. Thanks so much for sharing Betty! X

Anonymous said...

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DeniseinVA said...

Lovely post and those photos are gorgeous!

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

Wow, I needed to read those words right now. Thank you.

Your photos are wonderful too.
Hugs to you, dear Betty.
xoRobyn

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Betty, your photos are amazing! The words are beautiful...thanks for sharing.

Teté M. Jorge said...

Wow!!! What a special post, honey!!!!

Don't you think that all we need is love? And the love is the basis of everything?

Loved this post! Thank you very much!!!!

Have a marvelous week!
Kisses and flowers with friendship.

Giga said...

Piękne i słowa i zdjęcia. Bardzo podoba mi się drugie. Pozdrawiam.
Beautiful and words and pictures. I really like the second. Yours.

Bob Bushell said...

Beautiful images and every thing you say.

carol l mckenna said...

Magnificent ~ ! Wow! Love the rose story ~ (A Creative Harbor) ^_^

Leovi said...

Wonderful photos, great the first two abstractions, good compositions, a hug.

RIZALENIO said...

Inspiring post.

Love all the photos too. Very creative. Masterpiece.

Ελένη Φλογερά said...

Ευχαριστώ για την επίσκεψη στο blog μου. Το δικό σου είναι πολύ ωραίο και οι φωτογραφίες σου φανταστικές θα σε επισκέπτομαι συχνά.

Betty Manousos said...

texwisgirl, oh, i didn't mean to make you teary! i meant to make you smile, i'm sorry!

Fernando Santos (Chana) said...

Olá Betty, Excelentes fotografias....
Passe lá no meu blog quem tem lá Prémio para você....
Cumprimentos

Liz Mays said...

That excerpt is so hopeful. I love it!

Kalinka said...

Thanks for visit on my blog:)
kisses from Poland
m.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh WOW---what a fabulous poem--and a lesson for each of us.. We need to keep on trying --even when times are hard. Sometimes when we can't do anything else to help someone else, we just need to pour out the LOVE...
Hugs,
Betsy

George said...

Thank you for sharing this inspiring post with us. We all to often underestimate the power of love and faith.

Anonymous said...

Very creatively edited images & the excerpt is quite nice. =)

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Love your pretty pictures!

Theresa Mahoney said...

There are no words to say other than this is simply the loveliest post I have seen today. Thanks for sharing!

Randy said...

What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it. It made my Monday so much better. Nice photos too.

Fer said...

Unas fotos chulísimas, sobre todo la segunda, muy buena saludos...

Craver Vii said...

Love is made more valuable by taking risks--by giving it away without the certainty of receiving a return. The love that stretches beyond the limitations of comfort and convenience... that is the kind of love that is needed the most.

Keep giving, Betty. You are a better person for it.

La Gata Coqueta said...



Dejare de apreciarte
cuando un pintor ciego
pinte el sonido de los pétalos
cayendo sobre las cumbres del viento
en armonía con los sentimientos del mañana.

Y cuando eso suceda yo no seré quien soy
ni tú llenaras mi jardín de pétalos velados
recubriendo la silueta de estelas doradas.

Un abrazo regado con una cascada de sonrisas
Para iluminar el comienzo de esta semana.

Atte.
María Del Carmen





:.tossan® said...

Beautiful post with excellent photos with elaborate care. You know very well make photo blog!

Rui Pires - Olhar d'Ouro said...

Maravilhosas fotos, grande qualidade apresentada. Gosto muito dos pontos de focagem!
Beijos e abraços!

imac said...

What can I say - but - I love it.

Unknown said...

καλημέρα Μπέτυ μου και καλή υπόλοιπη εβδομάδααααααααααα-))))

Vores have said...

Nice pictures you show.
Thanks for the comment on my blog.
Wish you a good day.
Hanne Bente - www.hbt.finus.dk

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous flower shots to go with that lovely story!

Diane AZ said...

Hi Betty, Such a beautiful and inspiring post, thank you so much!

Felicity Grace Terry said...

So beautiful, so wise, this is such a moving post. So glad to be back with you, I've missed my visits. x

LindyLouMac said...

Thankyou for sharing those lovely words with your photos.

La Gata Coqueta said...



La armonía tiene música,
Que respira en cada flor,
Que vuela en cada amanecer,
Y que suspira en cada atardecer.

Gracias amig@ por volar a mi lado
Prestándome las alas del silencio…

Vivamos el fin de semana
Repleto de buenas intenciones…

Atte.
María Del Carmen




EG CameraGirl said...

Hope you have an inspirational weekend too, Betty!

Unknown said...

This post brought tears to my eyes. Such an inspirational post. Something to ponder on. The 2nd photo is really gorgeous.
Ecommerce Australia

Unknown said...

This post brought tears to my eyes. Such an inspirational post. Something to ponder on. The 2nd photo is really gorgeous.
Ecommerce Australia

Epicuros said...

Your photos are outstandiing! I wish I had mnade some of them... Q-)

Epicuros said...

My "smiley" failed... :-)

SandyCarlson said...

A stunner in every way, this post. Thank you, friend. It is good to be here.

Magia da Inês said...

¸.•°✿⊱╮╮


Boa semana!
Beijinhos.
Brasil
¸.•°✿⊱

JennyPennyPoppy said...

Very nice pictures and thanks for sharing the meaningful and powerful excerpt.

michael said...

Thank you very much for this beautiful post. :)

Laura said...

Amazing pictures and a very profound post.
Love visiting your great blog friend!!

smaragda said...

I agree:)Brilliant! love and Light Betty.
Smaragda

Smaragda said...

Na sai pada Kala. Poly omorfo blog.
Gnwtisthkame sto aeroplano hehe..

Betty Manousos said...

Smaragda ti ekplixi!!!
how are you?

Filakia polla, xanaela pali kai afise e-mail gia na vlepeis tin apantisi moy.

i'd love to see you here again!!

xx