Journal 2

"The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion." - Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho was born in Brazil. His dream was to always be a writer, but his parents insisted he

do something more logical. His father was an engineer, and his mother did not like the idea of him being

a writer. He was considered weird to his family. They even sent him to a mental facility, which he

escaped from three times. He was later released at the age of 20. He later left to become a hippy, and

traveled across South America. He experimented with drugs in the 60's, and even became a music

writer.

His quote "The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion." means that an opinion

is just words, while an example is actually taking action. Actions speak louder than words. If a person

attempts something and succeeds, then others will try to succeed too. If one attempts something and

fails, then people will follow by their example and never do exactly what you did again. Coelho set the

example of following ones dreams. After leaving a mental hospital three times he must have sparked

some type of interest in others to defy their parents and family to do what they wished.

As an older sibling, my little brother looks up to me all the time. He follows by example. If he

sees me doing something, then he will think it's okay to do it. Even if it isn't. That's the beauty in setting

an example. No matter what, someone is going to want to try what someone did. Whether it's to learn

from others mistakes, or to follow in others success. Although sometimes I wish my brother didn't

follow my example, he learns from me. He watches me fail, he watches me succeed. I can't change that,

but at the same time I somewhat enjoy teaching my brother how life works. I am the only other person

that can help him with my parents. I am the only other person who really understands what my brother

goes through.