Story ‣ The Mouse And The Books

When I was interned in Dr. Eiras Hospital, I began to have panic crises.

One day, I decided to consult the psychiatrist in charge of my case;

“Doctor, I am overcome by fear; it takes from me the joy of living.”

“Here in my office there is a mouse that eats my books”, said the doctor.

“If I get desperate about this mouse, he will hide from me and I will do nothing else in life but hunt him.

Therefore, I put the most important books in a safe place and let him gnaw some others.

In this way, he is still a mouse and does not become a monster.

“Be afraid of some things and concentrate all your fear on them – so that you have courage in the rest.”

Paulo Coelho