The Alchemist : Following Your Dream!

You might wonder why's every other post in this blog a book review? Because I'm turning into a bookworm, I enjoy reading books these days, and I'm thankful to my friends, who're suggesting me such good books that I can never think about not writing an entry that relates to the same. And no wonder, this time it was a modern classic - The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

The Alchemist is a fable about following your own dreams by seeing the world through your own eyes and not someone else's. The best thing about the book was, I could relate myself, my preparation for the CAT while I was reading. The book added fuel to the fire, and I'm more committed to study for CAT now, it acted like an inspiration. Like the book's back says:

"Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of the readers forever. Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist is such a book."

I've seen the change from today, a new feeling, a new way to look at the life, and the journey towards destiny.

"Every blessing ignored becomes a curse."

The above being my favorite quote from the book. When I was selected in TCS in the III year of my Computer Engineering curriculum, I was aimless. With a job in one hand I always questioned myself about preparing for CAT, or doing some technical certifications, or just enjoy the year ahead? It once came in my mind that a godsend chance should always be utilized for the best, and hence going in the direction of CAT was a right option. And hence I joined the ‘regulars’ batch at PT, and I'm into preparation. Every blessing ignored becomes a curse. I was blessed with an early campus. It should be taken as a blessing, something godsend that suggests: utilization for the next few months in right direction is something that is must, and if you fail to do so, soon you'll see the godsend chance become a curse, and something you'll later regret upon. The book strengthened my belief on the godsend chance, a clear message.

"When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

Very true! Start listening to your heart, follow the direction it guides you. Start seeing the world with your own eyes than someone else's and you'll realize, the universe is with you, despite the troubles in the way, helping you reach the destiny.

"Every search begins with beginner's luck. And every search ends with the victor's being severely tested."

Isn't this the right quote on the journey to IIMs? The proverb "The darkest hour of the night came just before the dawn" has a similar meaning.


Some other quotes from the book that had co-relation with what's going on these days are worth mentioning:

"Everything in life has its price."

"I'm like everyone else - I see the world in terms of what I would like to see happen, not like what actually does"

"That's the way it always is. It's called the principle of favorability. When you play cards the first time, you're almost sure to win. Beginner's luck! And why's that? Because there is a force that wants to realize your destiny; it whets your appetite with taste of success."

"Making a decision is only the beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamt of when he first made the decision."

"The close one gets to realizing his destiny, the more that destiny becomes his true reason for being."

"People need not fear unknown, if they are capable of achieving what they need and want."

"You must understand that love never keeps a man from pursuing his destiny. If he abandons that pursuit, it's because it wasn't true love... the love that speaks the Language of the World."

"When you possess great treasures within you and try to tell others of them, seldom are you believed."

"No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn't know it."

"No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn't know it."

On the monk's statement, "But this payment goes well beyond my generosity", the alchemist replied, "Don't say that again. Life might be listening and give you less next time."

So, it was The Alchemist all day, and nothing else. I read some articles from Business Today, and came across the cover story on TCS, TCS –The real story. I couldn’t complete this cover story, and hence can't say much about it but yes! next post would be about the software major that recruited me, or about any new book that comes my way.

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Word Of The Day:

saturnine

Pronunciation: (sat'ur-nīn")

1. sluggish in temperament; gloomy; taciturn.
2. Bitter or scornful, Showing a brooding ill humor
3. suffering from lead poisoning, as a person.
4. due to absorption of lead, as bodily disorders.

Usage:

1. saturnine, sarcastic (vs. unsarcastic)
   usage: bitter or scornful; "the face was saturnine and swarthy, and the sensual lips...twisted with disdain"- Oscar Wilde
2. dark, dour, glowering, glum, moody, morose, saturnine, sour, sullen, ill-natured (vs. good-natured)
   usage: showing a brooding ill humor; "a dark scowl"; "the proverbially dour New England Puritan"; "a glum, hopeless shrug"; "he sat in moody silence"; "a morose and unsociable manner"; "a saturnine, almost misanthropic young genius"- Bruce Bliven; "a sour temper"; "a sullen crowd"
   

Adieu,

Fictional Reality.