The Alchemist by Paul Coelho
Recommended
by: Tammy Benwell
What It’s About:
The Alchemist is a book about following your
dreams, and the struggles that one often faces when attempting to do so.
While sleeping under a sycamore tree Santiago
has a recurring dream where a young child tells him that a treasure awaits him
at the Pyramids in Egypt. After consulting an elderly gypsy woman, who confirms
his dream, Santiago sets out on his journey to Egypt. Along the way he encounters people and
circumstances that cause him to doubt his dream, but he also meets people like
the Alchemist, who continue to inspire him and renew his faith in the journey.
Why You Should Read It:
I
love this book because it touches on one of my core beliefs about the nature of
life. I believe in following your
dreams, no matter how big or small they might seem. I think that we allow fear
and feelings of unworthiness to dictate a lot of our choices in life, therefore
limiting our growth. Bad things will
happen to us all at some point, and sometimes the bad things can feel quite
frequent and overwhelming. Santiago certainly faced his fair share of
challenges. But if we can continue to
push forward, I whole-heartedly believe that good things can happen. I have witnessed it firsthand, working with
mental health patients, their families and my clients at Bliss.
Favourite Quote(s):
“It's the possibility of having a
dream come true that makes life interesting.”
“People are afraid to pursue their most
important dreams because they feel that they don’t deserve them, or that
they’ll be unable to achieve them.”
“People are capable at any time in their lives,
of doing what they dream of.”
“The fear of suffering is worse than the
suffering itself… no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its
dreams.”
Tammy Benwell MSW RSW