I learned about life from life itself, love I learned in a single kiss and could teach no one anything except that I have lived with something in common among men.
Interpretation
Life experiences teach us valuable lessons, and love can be understood in simple moments.
In this quote, Pablo Neruda reflects on the profundity of life's lessons learned through personal experiences, asserting that while he can only share his knowledge of love through the simplicity of a kiss, these experiences resonate universally among all people. It highlights the importance of lived experiences as sources of wisdom and connection.
In practice
During a life coaching session, I quoted Neruda to emphasize the importance of personal experiences.
Perhaps this war will pass like the others which divided us leaving us dead, killing us along with the killers but the shame of this time puts its burning fingers to our faces. Who will erase the ruthlessness hidden in innocent blood?
I want to see the thirst inside the syllables I want to touch the fire in the sound: I want to feel the darkness of the cry. I want words as rough as virgin rocks.” - Verb.
Only do not forget, if I wake up crying it's only because in my dream I'm a lost child hunting through the leaves of the night for your hands.
And here am I, budding among the ruins with only sorrow to bite on, as if weeping were a seed and I the earth's only furrow.
Once more I am the silent one who came out of the distance wrapped in cold rain and bells: I owe to earth's pure death the will to sprout.
I have named you queen. There are taller than you, taller. There are purer than you, purer. There are lovelier than you, lovelier. But you are the queen.
Gone are the living, but the dead remain, And not neglected; for a hand unseen, Scattering its bounty like a summer rain, Still keeps their graves and their remembrance green.
That was a wonderful period in my life. I mean, I didn't become an artist, but somebody let me do something I loved. What a luxury, to do something you love to do.
O polished perturbation! golden care! That keep'st the ports of slumber open wide To many a watchful night.
Life is conspiring in your favor. It may not always look that way, but it is, I assure you. Everything that is happening, is happening just the wayit must, in order for you to have the opportunity tocreate the experience of your Self for which you yearn.
I have different hats; I'm a mother, I'm a woman, I'm a human being, I'm an artist and hopefully I'm an advocate. All of those plates are things I spin all the time.
When everything happens to you when you're so young, you're very lucky, but by the same token, you're never going to have that same feeling again. The first time anything happens to you - your first love, your first success - the second one is never the same.
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