I’ve recently finished reading a book that I thought I’d never read: The Alchemist (by Paolo Coelho). I know most of you know and have read it. I guess my reluctance to read it before stemmed from my experience of reading a Paolo Coelho book that I didn’t like. But now that I’ve read The Alchemist, I don’t regret having read it.
The book gives so many tidbits in life….which deserves more discussion. But for now, I would like to share the three most important lesons that I’ve learned from it, and no, there are no lines that will tell you these directly, they are deduced when you read the whole book.
First, to find our "personal legend" or our purpose in life, we have to get out of our comfort zones and seek farther and wider. Ika nga, we must get out of the box we are in right now. Now, this is easier said than done…we have been used to most aspects of our lives that we are reluctant to give them up. Personally, I know that there is something within me that makes me feel that I have to do something that I don’t know what! But I’ve become used to my life (work, house, WEndy, travel, bake, mall…) that I’m afraid to change it. Well, as one Chinese author (asa Springer pa ako nun) said: We must not become prisoners of the circle that we draw around ourselves. I hope someday I get to step out of that circle….
Second, sometimes, we search the world for our "treasure," look far, and travel time and time again, only to find out that our treasure was where we were in the first place. This may entail different treasures for person, it may be our home, our family, our work, our organization, but the message is the same: sometimes, we are blind that we do not realize that our treasure was with us in the first place…. But then, don’t lessons 1 and 2 contradict? Not really, because I believe that it is in the process of searching for our treasure that we learn of our personal legend. Sabi nga nila, it is not the destination, but the journey.
And the most important thing I leaned is that when you reach a certain level that you truly, truly believe in yourself (not in an arrogant, conceited way), you can do and be anything, turn lead into gold or even be the wind. Many people don’t believe in themselves…and it is important that when you want to achieve something and go somewhere, the place to start is within you: BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.
The book was "matalinhaga"… does the same apply to life? I don’t think so…life is straighforward…we live to be happy, to enjoy, to love, but remember that we are here for a purpose.
Hello!
I’m a big fan of Paulo Coelho! You will love this! He’s the first best-selling
author to be distributing for free his works on his blog:
www.paulocoelhoblog.com
Have a nice day!
Aart
Posted by aart at April 24, 2008, 5:01 amHi aart, thanks for sharing that info!
this post reminded me of the following quotes:
Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
Dance as though no one is watching you.
Love as though you have never been hurt before.
Sing as though no one can hear you.
Live as though heaven is on earth.
one of the most difficult problems people face is, well, boredom. most of the time, you do not realize that IT IS a problem and something you have to attend to. Appreciate what you have, but be driven by passion.
you are a passionate person. you’ll find your personal legend.
Hmmm…pwede…boredom can actually be taken as a sign that you are not where you should be. Meaning, there might be something else you should be doing, someone else you should be with, or somewhere else you should be—not exactly ways to find your purpose in life.
“You are a passionate person. you’ll find your personal legend.
”
Mordsith, I hope you’re right….
yes, a smoke from the fire.
i’ve been wondering about this book for quite some time. it’s a lifetime quest i guess, finding your personal legend that is. but what i really dream of the most upon reading this very good entry of yours is having the time to read a book ![]()
As for the boredom issue, it comes and then leave… just go back to what you really want to do and RESPOND to it and then appreciate the things that make you truly happy… you know, like -?-, house, Wendy, travel, bake, mall ![]()
Ps: i didn’t include the first one on your list, baka kasi it’s one of the sources of your boredom hehe
a lesson i got from the book that i still hold so close to me is that if you really like something, if you really believe in something, the powers of the universe shall conspire in giving it to you or helping you make something you believe in to happen.
“…only to find out that our treasure was where we were in the first place.”
touche.
Posted by x at April 25, 2008, 4:37 amTeka lang ha….I’m not saying that I’m bored! Si Mordsith talaga oh! I love what I’m doing, and I love where my life is right now, and I do the things I do because I want to. It’s just that I feel that there’s something else I should be doing pa na hindi ko alam kung ano. Parang there’s still more I can do for the people and the world, I just have to find out what and how. Naks!
Did I make it sound as if I was complaining? Because I’m not.
P.S. ka2x…di naman ako bored sa work…feeling ko mas mabobore ako pag wala ako work at asa bahay na lang buong araw… At saka andyan naman kayo….kwentuhan na lang tayo! he! he!
Posted by kumarenggrace at April 25, 2008, 6:32 amWhat’s that Coelho book you didn’t like? Ako, “By the River Piedra…” But The Alchemist is OK.
Most of his books ata are about spiritual quests. Medyo mahirap makarelate especially when his characters turn to stuff like Wicca and withcraft as means of spiritual enlightenment.
Sabi nga, “Wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.” So whatever your purpose is, whatever your “legend” turn out to be, if pursuing that will make you happy, then the journey, more than the destination, will make it all worthwhile.
I think it was “The Valkyries” (sana tama spelling)…di ko talaga type…
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I loved this book. Ang ganda!
Posted by tahn at April 23, 2008, 7:03 pm