Issue 19 - Rebirth

Hello and welcome to my weekly email newsletter, Deep Life Reflections: Friday Five, where I share five things I’m enjoying, thinking about, and find interesting.

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I’m writing from Spain this week, enjoying a few days in the cities of Madrid and Valencia, with good food and good company. Before sitting down to write this week’s issue, I had a walk around the old town of Valencia at sunrise. I find walking always helps my thinking process. So, here’s my Friday Five this week.

1. What I’m Reading

The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho.

Whenever I set off on a journey, I like to select books that share a connection with my destination. For my current trip through Spain, I chose Paulo Coelho’s 1987 novel, The Pilgrimage. It’s a recollection of his experiences as he made his way across northern Spain on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela—known as the Camino de Santiago—which I’ve written about in previous issues. Though I’m not in the same part of Spain, the journey is similar in spirit.

This is the first time I’ve read Coelho’s work, and 150 pages flew by. His writing is concise, simple, and philosophical. Simplicity is a primary theme of the book, extending to the narrative itself, which suggests that clarity and straightforwardness can lead to profound insights. The Pilgrimage advocates for the need to “fight the good fight”—staying true to our path, even in the face of challenges. Each chapter invites reflection and interpretation, with Coelho deliberating on life’s big questions and reinforcing why it’s important to live in the moment.

I’m only halfway through the book, but one of the central themes is clear: we can discover the extraordinary in the most ordinary, simple ways of daily life—and anyone can do this. Another poignant theme revolves around our perception of time: “It is we who determine the pace of time.” That’s a powerful line, especially relevant in our age of busyness.

Many of you might be familiar with Coelho’s seminal work, The Alchemist, which is often seen as the companion to The Pilgrimage. I’m interested to hear from you if you’ve read either or both, and how they might have shaped or influenced any aspect of your life.

“The ship is safest when it’s in port, but that’s not what ships were built for.”

Paulo Coelho, The Pilgrimage

2. What I’m Watching

The Trip to Spain. Directed by Michael Winterbottom.

The Trip to Spain is the lighter, yet also reflective, side of travel. The six-part television series follows the culinary journey of British comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon as they meander from the northern regions of Cantabria to the southern locales of Andalusia. The series is beautifully shot, capturing the country’s diverse landscapes, from the coastal vistas to the rustic charm of its rural areas. And for those who love food, the duo’s indulgence in exquisite regional cuisine is a treat.

Much of the humour in the series comes from the actors’ gifted improvised conversations, which often involve playful teasing and competitive attempts at celebrity impressions. These include Mick Jagger, Al Pacino, and Roger Moore, amongst many others, and they’re brilliant. All of this suggests that laughter, camaraderie, and good food might just be the best way to make time stand still.

Despite the lighthearted tone, the series has a more melancholic and poignant side, exploring themes such as ageing, fame, and personal insecurities. With Coogan and Brydon portraying semi-fictionalised versions of themselves, the writers have license to give these scenes a sense of the dramatic, lending the series an unexpected depth. It’s a gentle reminder of the introspection and enlightenment travel can bring, emphasising once again the importance of appreciating the present moment and valuing the personal connections we make along the way.

3. What I’m Contemplating

Travel, like life itself, evolves over time. In our younger years, as children or teenagers, the idea of travel instills a sense of adventure and novelty. I remember a family holiday to Ibiza in 1989. I was fourteen and my sister, ten. We couldn’t wait for the swimming pools, sunshine, and play. It’s the holiday I remember most fondly from my youth. However, as time passes, our perception of travel subtly shifts. We begin to seek different things—perhaps tranquility over thrill, connection over novelty.

In Paulo Coelho’s The Pilgrimage, he describes travel as an “act of rebirth.” I hadn’t thought of travel in that way before, but it resonates. Stripped of our habitual surroundings, we confront new situations, often in languages we don’t speak or understand. The day passes more slowly and since all things are new or unfamiliar, there is a sense of childlike wonder, of discovering something for the first time. Through this perspective, every journey presents an opportunity to rediscover the world and ourselves.

Travel then can be a catalyst for rebirth, a chance to hit the reset button on life, and a reminder of our inherent adaptability and capacity for growth.

4. A Quote to note

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.”

- Mark Twain

5. A Question for you

How has your perspective on travel changed as you've grown older?

Footnote: The photo accompanying this week’s newsletter is my photo of the Turia Fountain in Valencia, with Neptune, the Roman God of freshwater and the sea, reigning at its pinnacle. The ceaseless cycle of water—always in motion, ever transformative—symbolises this week’s theme, ‘Rebirth.’

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Thanks for reading and have a great weekend.

James