“The strongest love is the love that can demonstrate its
fragility. Anyway, if my love is real (and not just a way of distracting
myself, deceiving myself, and passing the time, that never seems to pass in
this city), freedom will conquer jealousy and any pain it causes me, since pain
is also part of the natural process. Anyone who practises sport knows this: if
you want to achieve your objectives, you have to be prepared for a daily dose
of pain or discomfort. At first, it's unpleasant and demotivating, but in time
you come to realise that it's part of the process of feeling good, and the
moment arrives when, if you don't feel pain, you have a sense that the
exercises aren't having the desired effect. The danger lies in focusing on that
pain, giving it a particular person's name, and keeping it always present in
your thoughts.”
— Paulo Coelho, Eleven Minutes
