Paolo Coelho is an all-time bestselling Portuguese language author. His novel, “The Alchemist” has been translated to 80 languages and has sold over 65 million copies. On Sunday, September 18, it celebrates its 8th year in the New York Times Best Sellers list. Coelho even went on Twitter to celebrate his book’s success.
“The Alchemist” tells the story of a young Andalusian shepherd boy, Santiago, who follows a dream about a boy who transports him to the pyramids of Egypt and says he will find hidden treasure. In pursuit of this dream, he now sets out on a journey that brought him places and made him realize that he was pursuing more than treasure, he was pursuing his ‘personal legend’.
Let’s take a look at the people he met on his journey and see what these characters can teach us about our own personal legend.
Dream Interpreter
Lesson: Recognize you have a dream
An old woman who told Santiago that his dream meant to actually go to the pyramids of Egypt to get his treasure. In life, we have dreams we want to pursue but we just allow it to linger in our minds. Not until a ‘dream interpreter’ who could be a family or friend, would outrightly tell us to take the first step but sometimes, we doubt.
Melchizedek, a king
Lesson: Realize that you can achieve your dream
Santiago met a wise king in a bookstore. Someone who he didn’t know but said the right words at the right time. He told Santiago that people can choose their own Personal Legend and that they are capable of controlling their future. It is at this moment that Santiago realized his Personal Legend which is to go on a journey to the pyramids of Egypt. Sometimes, it takes situations or people like this for us to finally have that realization.
Merchant
Lesson: Pursue your dreams even if you see others give up on them
The merchant’s personal legend was to visit Mecca. Instead of pursuing this, he gave and looked after his crystal shop instead. With the help of Santiago, the merchant became very rich, as did Santiago. Santiago now had a choice to go back home or continue on his journey. We each have a ‘merchant’. A person who gave up on their dreams living a life they don’t want just for survival.
Englishman
Lesson: You don’t need a degree to pursue your dream
The Englishman is a learned man who has been studying books to become an alchemist, someone who knows the language of the world, and who can turn any metal to gold.The Englishman is too busy learning through books and forgets to allow himself f to experience things around him.There are people who occupy themselves with books to learn, and forget to experience things around them.
Camel Driver
Lesson: Do not fear the unknown instead live in the moment
The camel driver was a farmer who owns an Orchard full of fruit, whose dream was also to visit Mecca. In pursuit of his dream, he wasn’t afraid of losing anything because he says you have to live in the moment and take what life gives you. In life, we have to be reminded that along the journey, you can be scared and things may not happen as you planned but always try to survive what life gives you and it will be alright.
Fatima
Lesson: Be inspired
In Santiago’s journey, he came upon Fatima, and at that moment, he seems to have understood the language of the world, the one everyone seemed to understand and speak, the language of love. In our life we encounter inspirations that allow us to totally understand and appreciate all that we do as we pursue our personal legend.
The Alchemist
Lesson: Do not stop until you reach your maximum potential to live your dream
Santiago did not mean to meet the alchemist but circumstances led them both to each other and it is the alchemist who brought out what Santiago didn’t know he had. He made him realize that Santiago has become an alchemist because he chose to pursue his Personal Legend.
Towards the end, Santiago found the pyramid but no treasure. A thief who wanted to steal the supposed treasure said of his recurring dream, which is treasure under a sycamore tree near an abandoned church. This was his home. He’s treasure was right below the place where he tends to his sheep. Santiago realized that his personal Legend wasn’t treasure after all, it was life.
If you haven’t read Paolo Coelho’s “The Alchemist”, grab a copy now! It’s never too late. You will find yourself getting up from where you are, living a new life pursuing something you were so scared to do for years: your dream.