This is a paper I wrote for school but thought was worth sharing with you. Hope you like it:)
“When two such people encounter each other, and their eyes meet, the past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written by one hand only. It is the hand that evokes love, and creates a twin soul for every person in the world. Without such love, one’s dreams would have no meaning” (The Alchemist, 93). Our life’s mission is to love and be loved. That is what makes the world go round, what motivates us and improves us. We are driven by our love for something or someone. It is what lights the flame and sustains the fire within us on our journey to fulfill our personal legend.
This passage from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho led me to ask several questions. Is there such a thing as love at first sight? When will I fall in love? How will I know if he is the one? Is there really someone out there for everyone? If there is a “twin soul for every person in the world,” then why are some people alone forever? Are they really alone? Does God choose our soul mate? What is a soul mate? Can your soul mate be something not someone? Does everything have a soul? Do you have to have a soul to love? What is love?
I am about to embark on my own life journey. Ever since I was little I wanted to be the best surfer in the world and my time has finally come to contend for a world title. I have been training, both mentally and physically, to best prepare myself for the start of the tour and it hasn’t been easy. About a month ago I was struggling with myself. I was stuck at a threshold, wondering if I really wanted to go thru with this and put everything I have into something that is not definite. There was a period of frustration and negativity because I wasn’t following my heart, I was fighting it. My love for surfing and the ocean runs deeper than anything but my fear of failing was holding me back. I was really able to relate to the story of The Alchemist in this way. There was a point in his journey that Santiago didn’t want to continue and find the treasure because he was afraid of dying in the desert. The alchemist said to him, “‘That makes sense. Naturally it’s (your heart) afraid that, in pursuing your dream, you might lose everything you’ve won. If a person is living out his personal legend, he knows everything he needs to know. There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure’” (141). When I finally embraced the challenges and possible failures to come, I was able to free myself from my fears and move forward with a positive, open mind and attitude. It took me awhile to come to that conclusion but I now feel more in touch with myself and what my heart desires. I have been much more optimistic and things have started to fall into place. As the King said to Santiago, “‘When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it’” (40).
However despite how much you love and want something sometimes it just doesn’t go your way and it hurts really bad. I lost today in my round three heat against 2003 world champion Sophia Mulonavich from Peru. I just fell out of rhythm with the ocean and I couldn’t catch a wave that allowed for me to really perform and get the score I needed to advance. Before the heat I had my mind in the right place, I wasn’t thinking about the nerves. I love performing and I just wanted to have fun and put on a show for the people on the beach. When I lost I broke down in tears and cried. It is devastating because when you love and want and work so hard for something and you come up short you start to question yourself and the journey. What could have I done better? Where did I go wrong? What pieces of the puzzle did I leave out? Why did this happen?
Doubt enters my mind. I have started off the year with an equal ninth and am currently seated last on tour. I am trying to be a full time high school senior and professional surfer at the same time. I might have to miss two events due to graduation and I have no room to mess up. Unfortunately this is a throw away result already and I am only allowed two. So where do I go from here? Initially I feel defeated and want to give up and feel sorry for myself, but I pick myself up and keep going because I love what I do and embrace the journey. These challenges are like brick walls. They aren’t there to keep me from achieving my goals but are there to test and see how much I want it. If I want it bad enough I will find a way. My love for the sport, the ocean and the people around me will continue to push me towards my final destination.