3rd Book: The Alchemist

How many times have we given up on our dreams and on our aspirations? And how many times have we used the same old excuses for not trying to turn them into reality?  Somewhere in our past we were very sure of what we want to be or do but somewhere along the way we lose it, and just let life or situation win.

"The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho has a very good explanation why it happens to us. In the quest of Santiago for his teasure, his 'Personal Legend', we will understand that we, in some point is also like him, searching for our own treasure. This is a must read for those who want to rekindle the fire with their Personal legends.

Let me get you to the book's Introduction by Paulo Coelho:

We need to be aware of our personal calling. what is a personal calling? It is God's blessing; it is the path that God chose for you here on Earth... However, we don't all have the courage to confront our own dream. Why?

There are four obstacles:
1. We are told from childhood onward that everything we want to do is impossible.
 
2. Love
     -We know what we want to do, but are afraid of hurting those around us by abondoning everything in order to pursue our dream.

3.Fear of the defeats we will meet on the path
    -Necessary or not, defeats happen. The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.

4. The fear of realizing the dream for which we fought all our lives.
   -We look around at all those who have failed to get what they want and feel that we do not deserve to get what we want either. We forget about all the obstacles we overcame, all the sufferings we endured, all the things we had to give up in order to get this far.
  - But if you believe yourself worthy of the thing you fought so hard to get, then you become an instrument of God, you help the Soul of the World, and you understand why your are here.

I believe it's true enough. If we are stuck in a situation and up until now we haven't even tried to realize our dreams, this list sums up the reasons.

I want to believe it's never too late. As long as we live and keep on moving forward, pushing towards our goal, it will happen. God will not frustrate us in our dreams. As Santiago said "If God leads the sheeps so well, he will also lead a man." Remember what the old King said, " If you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

Next in line: The five people you meet in heaven by Mitch Albom