I stumbled upon a book during my youth --- the title was "The Alchemist". Being a fan of the Harry Potter Franchise it suddenly hit me. I thought --- "The Sorcerers Stone", curiosity sinks in and flipping the book for the back cover, I read one of the most vague summary. I wasn't familiar with Paulo Coelho back then, and after reading and finishing the book, I was instantly forever a fan of his works. "When you really want something to happen, the whole universe conspires so that your wish comes true" That was the core and philosophy of the story, it's about the journey of one's soul in realizing one's dream or as the book stressed out ; "Your Personal Legend". The story revolves around Santiago, an Andalusian Boy who wants to be a Sheppard. He repeatedly dreams of a child telling him where his treasure would be, to pursue the prophetic message, he sets off to a journey to find his "Personal Legend". Along the way he met these amazing and wonderful people that helps him realize his purpose and carry on with his adventure. Santiago is a boy who love the pleasure of liberty. Almost all of his decisions was based with the ideology that can never compromise his freedom, one thing is that he chose to become a Sheppard to travel the plains of Andalusia. He met an unusual but somewhat wise man who claims that he is in fact a king. The man was Melchizedek. The king convinces Santiago that to realize one's dream he must sacrifice to gain something. The boy decided to sell all of his sheep for him to able to travel to Africa. The king also gave him two magical stones Urim and Thummim. Upon arriving in Africa, destiny played a trick with Santiago, he was robbed and left with nothing. After the incident he decided to work in a crystal shop and after a year he was able to save up and buy a flock of sheep. At the last minute of contemplating of realizing his "Personal Legend", he decides to travel to Egypt. The Soul of the World to which we are all connected and of the necessity of following our heart's true desires or our Personal Legend. He met an Englishman who has the same ideology as the King Mekchizedek. The Englishman was out to seek a famous but quite mysterious Alchemist who as rumors said, lives in an oasis called Al-Fayoum. In Al-Fayoum, Santiago found Fatima. He found love and understands that like his personal legend, Love is in every way connected with the Soul of the World. There he found the renowned Alchemist who informs him that he will show the way to his treasure. On the way to the Pyramids, they were attacked by a warring tribe, Thinking quickly, the Alchemist boasted that Santiago is a very powerful magician that can turn into the Element of the wind. Dumb-founded, Santiago has no idea on how to be one or to become of the wind. After days of meditating and seeking the Soul of the world, he was able to turn into the wind and appears to the other end of the camp. One of the most important part of the story was when the Alchemist turns lead into gold disk, he keeps one for himself, gives one to a Monk who at first refuses the offer but the Alchemist told the monk that destiny sometime offers less if refused, ha gave two to Santiago. Arriving on the climax of his story. Santiago digs a hole on the foot of the Pyramid but was attacked by robbers and asked, "Why are you here". He answered that he had a recurring dream that he will find his treasure there. The robbers laughed so hard and said that he has the same dreams but the treasure was in Spain in an abandoned church. Santiago realizes that his treasure was in Spain all along, at the very place where he stays to rest. He came back to that church and found a trunk full of gold enough for him and Fatima to live to end of their love story. Your Personal Legend is more important than the treasure that the Personal Legend offers. I'ts the journey of finding your connection to the Soul of the World. We might succeed in the endeavors of finding our Personal Legend only to treasure what luxury it can offer to us, but the lesson and purpose of one's self might be miles away from accepting the true meaning of your journey in life. As I finish reading the book, I obviously wants to build and construct my own Personal Legend, I can say that the book changed by outlook and perspective in life and gave me purpose to continue and seek the Soul of the World in my own eyes and in my own adventure. I gladly recommend to the person reading this that if ever you stumbled on Paulo Coelho's masterpiece, take time and read it, as many times as you like and may you also have the urge of finding your Personal Legend. Get up, Wake up, and Take Risks in Exploring the World.
