Why did I read “The Alchemist” again !!
Till my mid 20’s, I never knew anything about self help or self improvement books. Never did I thought that I need to read it. But after back to back negative things happening around me, I took a time to assess myself and think “Is it really the situation or am I responsible for my own unhappiness or frustration. Is it my thinking which is bringing me down everyday?”
With all those questions I came across this book of Paulo Coelho “The Alchemist”. When I read it the first time, my little mind was so naïve for not to understand it. But with that I started reading more about self awareness and self improvement. I decided to read the book again, this time I loved it and I can relate so many things.
About the book —
This Book talks about a boy, who wants to discover his destiny. He thinks his destiny is not by staying at one place but to travel, so he becomes a shepherd. He loves his sheep, they are the only ones who knew him, his only possession.
On this journey, he meets a king who tells the boy his destiny is in finding the treasure which is the pyramids of Egypt. He had never heard of it till then, but he gets so excited about the unknown things and wants to go there and find it. But he gets confused whether to stay with his sheep or pursue his dream of finding the treasure, which tells us for getting something in life, we have to make sacrifices.
After so many calculations in his mind, he decides to sell the sheep and pursue his dream. On the way, he gets so many obstacles, that he thinks that his destiny is not in the pyramids actually, may be he should go back to his sheep, but king had told him to follow the signs of the universe. Universe gives him signs to follow his dream and so he keeps on moving until he finds the treasure
He also stumbles when he find comfort in the love of a woman, but she tells him to move forward, which is inspiring as your partner should always believe in you and how one person can actually affect what you decide next in life.
He finds his treasure somewhere else than in Egypt, which actually says that journey is more important than the treasure. Also, it might be the case the treasure is not where you actually see it.
The books teaches all the things which we face while pursuing our dreams, its not just the start. It talks about the whole journey, dilemma's while moving forward in the journey. How comfort can change our decisions, but can ruin the satisfaction we seek by following our dreams. And the joy we get when we actually accomplish it. The journey is more important than the single moment when we reach there.
Why Should you read the book?
If you are someone who is trying to get something or working on something everyday, you do loose faith on low days. Books like these will keep your spirits up. So keep Reading and be Inspired. It has lot of inspiring quotes which can inspire you to work on your thing.
