The old man is sitting by the entrance of the small town graveyard, he is looking over the first two rows of tombs lost on his thoughts. It’s a warm winter day, a book resting on his lap, he just finished reading it and the feeling of uneasiness that started as soon as he began the book has now taken him over completely.
The book has taken him back to a time when he was a young man full of big dreams, aching for adventures and richness. He took the job at the cemetery as something temporal, as a way to make enough money to take the bus that could take him to the big city where he could make all his dreams come true. But he never got the courage to leave his job, his town, his home. He allowed others to convince him that he was good for nothing, that he should considered himself lucky with what he got and thank God for that.
Fifty years have passed, he has buried half of the town and all the members of his family, as the town was a town of old people, all the young ones left, except for him. Always afraid of failing and having to accept that the others were right, that he was good for nothing.But has he not failed anyway? Tomas started laughing and crying at the same time. Dammed book, why did he have to read it! He should have been like that Santiago; he should have followed his dreams!
© 2009 Gabriela Abalo AuthorThe book has taken him back to a time when he was a young man full of big dreams, aching for adventures and richness. He took the job at the cemetery as something temporal, as a way to make enough money to take the bus that could take him to the big city where he could make all his dreams come true. But he never got the courage to leave his job, his town, his home. He allowed others to convince him that he was good for nothing, that he should considered himself lucky with what he got and thank God for that.
Fifty years have passed, he has buried half of the town and all the members of his family, as the town was a town of old people, all the young ones left, except for him. Always afraid of failing and having to accept that the others were right, that he was good for nothing.But has he not failed anyway? Tomas started laughing and crying at the same time. Dammed book, why did he have to read it! He should have been like that Santiago; he should have followed his dreams!
note: this short story was published by Paulo Coelho on his blog on 5th June 2009 - http://paulocoelhoblog.com/2009/06/05/your-story-in-by-blog-tomas-the-graveyard-keeper-by-gabriela-abalo/
6 comments:
Gabi, it is quiet strange how people might lost their entire life because they 'think' they can not do 'that thing' or take 'that step' to change their life. Anyway they are actualy dead even if they still breathing.
Keep on this blog, glad that I found it via Paulo Coelho's one.
This is quite an interesting story... you really have a talent. I am surprised by how deep it gets.
Gabi, Beautiful!!!
There are lots of Tomas´s were I live.
Reading short storys as this one, helps people to listen their interior voice and allows them to take the big step in their lives. Keep on!!!
Vir
@ all thanks for the great comments!
Love
Gabi
I see myself in Tomas, though I did first steps toward my dreams for some reason they never worked out. Sometimes I wonder if I had followed through would I be more happy. The answer is No. I accepted the role god wanted me to play. This acceptance has led to a deep contentment with what little I have. Finding joy where you are is more important than chasing empty dreams. I hope Tomas can learn that acceptance and be grateful.
Hi Tag,
That is the attitude Tag!! Being content and happy with who you are, aware that all the choices you made in the past took you to where you are now.
We can’t spend our precious “present” regretting and weeping over the past, on what should have been or could have been…
We can’t change what was done, we can’t control what will be, but we do have a choice on how we live our “now”.
Whenever I get stuck and afraid I revisit Tomas’s story, just to remind myself to follow my heart.
loveNlight
Gabi
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