Have you read the novel "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho? It's a great novel, and has been hailed as a modern classic. Wikipedia has told me that its first publication was written in Portuguese, and the Guinness World Record says it is the most translated book by a living author, after having been translated into 67 languages.
This novel is a perfect material for high school students who are to make book synthesis, or reviews. Also, it gives valued lessons for the youngsters who are still about to embark on their life's accomplishments. I was able to read the book at a most opportune time. I hardly find time to read books and novels to do away from a stressful working life.
The novel gives us the term "PERSONAL LEGEND". The book tells us it is the dream of a person to which his life's path is destined to achieve great happiness. This is the story embarked by the main character, who traveled and has experience frustrations, despair, hope, love, and even more, in his quest for the so called personal legend. The real value of his journey was not being able to achieve his personal legend, but the lessons that he has learned along the way. The pains, sorrows, joy, success, friendships were the perfect ingredients to earn the real treasure. Just as they say, PERSONAL EXPERIENCE is the best teacher for all. To value the experience, learning from it and doing things right can lead to the greatest happiness we could have ever dreamed.
On a personal note, I can relate a bit of myself partly to the story of the boy. Since I was a kid, I have been marveled by engineers and professors, with their stature in their life. I got that influence from movies, documentaries, etc. I have been awed by image they possess of knowledge with their technical fields, talking of their expertise.
I have also admired professionals with great family values. I thank my family, that even though it was not that as complete, I was guided rightfully with good moral.
So at that age, I've set my goal in life. I want to be a successful professional, in the field of engineering and sciences, being able to share with what I possess in knowledge and skills, and build my own family.
Well, that was too long ago. I'm already 33, and as far as I can remember, I was still 7 when I set that goal. What I have achieved so far; two masters degree and on the 13th year of teaching college students. I'm contented with what I have achieved so far. Still a long way to go for me.
It has been a rough and tumble road that I went through. A lot of heartache, sacrifices, misjudgment, untimely decisions, bad finances. Hope and love were the light along the way, although sometimes false hope and false love was shattering once it took place. Eventually, that ride somehow molded my maturity. This could now help me through to adapt to challenges on the road ahead.
I have learned valuable lessons from my journey. I must not be afraid to take my chances and face my fears, learn to value the simple things in life, and most of all, balance the priorities. This lessons are what is being exemplified from the novel, by the boy who have a journey on his own too.
After reading the book, so I did my reflection. I then realized that I was able to achieve what I have dreamed of. I was unconscious that I have already attained it, until that day. I was more focused on the lessons from the experiences than the reward that I have reaped from my success.
It is important that we take things slowly, and value each day as it comes into our life. Too much thinking of the future makes us forget that simplicity makes life wonderful. Not to forget humility. Too much bragging of self doesn't gain friends, but secret enemies. While taking risks might make us to lose something valuable, its better than not trying at all, and fill your life with what ifs. We should never hesitate to grab an opportunity, for it knocks only once.
We all have goals in life. Some of us might even have the same dream of who we want to be in the future. But the path to it is what varies. No matter what path we take, we must note that it is not the treasure that comes after getting to our destination that counts, but real treasure are the things and experiences that we have learned on our path to destiny.
Let me end this with the ultimate core motto of the novel "The Alchemist": "WHEN YOU WANT SOMETHING, ALL THE UNIVERSE CONSPIRES IN HELPING US TO ACHIEVE IT."
Thanks for reading guys......c",)
