The Alchemist

Dear Blog Diary,

Guess my favorite book. Hint: It’s the title of this post.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I have a tattoo dedicated to the book. It’s one that inspires all to chase their dreams. The book is also my number one recommendation for all people but especially the youth.

Spoiler (but not a big one):

The book is about a shephard in Spain that dreams that there is treasure at the pyramids in Egypt. Obviously, he goes to find it. What happens in the beginning of his journey is what has always inspired me most. The shephard sells his flock and crosses the waters from Spain to Morocco, and in his first day there he is robbed and loses everything.

I love that part.

I love that part of the book because that is exactly how life is. You give up everything and you’re excited. “I’m going to chase down this dream and it’s going to be an adventure.” That’s the exciting part, but I think what most people don’t see and give credit to is when life very quickly responds, “sure it’s your dream, but let me test you, slap you across the face, and then let’s see how bad you really want it.”

I believe people are generally sensible, but to a fault. It’s not that people are afraid to try. It’s that they are afraid to lose what they already have. Makes sense to me. You’ve spent sometimes decades building this foundation, this comfortable life that you have earned but if it’s not your passion your dream your purpose…what’s the point?

I find myself now at this juncture in my life. Face bright red, weight of the world on my shoulders, and it’s a choice whether I can see tomorrow as an opportunity or a nightmare.

In The Alchemist, Paulo writes that the heart only suffers when you are not in pursuit of your own personal legend (dream, passion, goal). I think he was exactly right. At some point whether it’s a month from now or 50 years, if you are not grinding to fulfill this personal legend, the heart will suffer.

Chase it now. Suffering 50 years from now will be worse. The issue is and always will be, how bad do you want it?

Good luck.

Eric