Tomorrow, for the first time in 8 years, I will start a new job. I am starting a new job because I quit my old job. I quit my old job because I read a book. I read the book because I made a friend. I made a friend because the universe wanted me to. If ever an award was to be given out for the Best Use of Oversimplification, those last few sentences would surely win me the grand prize. Beyond and between those sentences lies the depth that you would hope exists when a reasonable and responsible adult makes a life changing decision.. Contemplation, conversation, emotion, it's all in there.
The book is called The Alchemist, and I highly recommend it to everyone. The basic idea of the book is that we each have something that we're supposed to do in life and this is our 'personal legend.' When you realize your personal legend and actively want it, the universe will conspire to help you achieve it. Along the way you will be tested, but ultimately, if you stay the course, these tests and potential setbacks will become rewards in themselves because they are part of the journey to fulfill your personal legend. In theory we all know our personal legend when we are young, but as we go through life, we get distracted, re-directed or sometimes, we even altogether forget it entirely. No matter how or why we lose sight of it, the personal legend is still there. Always.
My personal legend manifested around age 8 when I realized that I wanted to be a teacher. Although I was fortunate enough to have the means and opportunity to pursue my personal legend throughout the course of my life, for various reasons at various times, I did not. On college graduation day, I vividly remember sitting in my seat and thinking, "This isn't my path. This isn't what I'm supposed to be doing." At that time I took comfort in knowing that someday when the time was right and I was ready to sacrifice what was necessary, I would return once more to my path; my personal legend.
Then came marriage....and a mortgage...and a band...and a baby....and a layoff.....and a new job...and another baby...and all kinds of other things that can fill up the years in a life. Some good things, some not so good things, but all of them served the same secondary function of distracting me from my personal legend. Despite the distraction, I appreciate every one of these things and I embrace the identity that they have collectively created for me. I can say this with great comfort now, because I am back on the path of pursuing my personal legend. Because I made a friend who gave me a book.
Here comes the disclaimer... I can't promise that reading The Alchemist will impact you in the same way it impacted me. Before we crack the cover, we each come to the book with our own life story, our own level of faith, and our perception of universal energy. The combination of these three elements will make reading the book a different experience for each of us. And that's okay. For me, reading The Alchemist was an opportunity to reflect on my life and re-connect with something bigger than myself. Even more important than the book though, is the incredible support I have received from my family and friends as I head down this path. If The Alchemist gave me the courage to stick my toe in the pool of positive change, than the people closest to me made it possible to jump in.
Looking forward to tomorrow...
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