The Alchemist

I remember that when I was younger I had a vivid imagination, somewhere along the way that imagination just seemed to dry up.

My husband said it was because I had given up on my dream. I told him I don't think I ever had any dreams.
Then he gave me this book to read - The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho. He has become one of my favorite authors.

The Alchemist is one of those  books that reminds you that you DO have a purpose even if you forgot it. I'm sure like anyone who has read The Alchemist, it had a tremendous effect on how you looked at your life.

Fiction has a profound way of hitting the nail on the head, we always what to travel all over the world to find our calling in life, when the only place we should really look is right within ourselves. I have recommended this book to many of friends, because regardless of what stage in life you are at, if you really have a desire to live your life to the fullness it is never too late to start.

Another element of the book that I love is the emphasis of the concept of the journey. I realized for myself that I was always caught up with what the end will be - the finish line - and I never took time to enjoy the journey to the finish line. It also reminds you that sometimes we get 'distracted' on our journey, but we have to always remember to stay the course and see where the road leads you, and who knows maybe those 'distractions' will come back into your life as a permanent "feature".

The best part about this book that has propelled me to consistently work towards my dream, is that this little shepherd boy stopped 'dreaming' and started doing. The only way we get somewhere is by doing something, and for years I would sit and dream of being this or being that.... now I do what I want to be, so that one day I can be what I dream of being.