#4 Personal Legends

This post is prompted by The Alchemist. When I started reading this book about a week and a half ago I was really into it. A young man, living a simple life, decides to travel across the sea to find treasure and his Personal Legend. The beginning was really full with lines that cut into you and motivate you to see the world. Personally, it made me feel like I was doing the right thing travelling around the world. There were parts in the story I really responded to and also one moment in the story that reminded me of one of my favourite moments in any book*. Overall this book is very well written and is uplifting... until the end or so I thought.

Spoiler Alert: If you plan to or haven't finished reading The Alchemist I suggest you don't read any further. The Leafs blurb is at the bottom. 

As a traveller and someone who enjoys exploring the world, the ending of Coelho's story really upset me. When the boy is in a hole battered and bruised after being brutally beaten by strangers he is told that the treasure he is seeking is back where the story started. WHAT!

Now as I'm writing (and editing), I am revising my argument and reflecting on all aspects of the novel. There are points in the story where he does benefit from travel: he discovered other people who have obtained their own Personal Legend, learned how to listen to his heart, found love, spoke to the wind, the sun, and the soul of the world, and understood how the whole planet is connected. Most of those things are valuable life lessons, but my generation learned that last point from The Lion King. It is a great coming of age story and I recommend everyone read it simply to experience the eloquence of Paulo Coelho's writing.   

I really, really loved The Alchemist and was very hopeful, like always that there'd be an amazing ending. When the boy was told that his treasure was back in the church, it basically stated all you need to survive is where you were born. If he had dug under the sycamore tree he would have been rich, and nothing more. By going on his adventure he became a wonder all his own. When the man on the hill by the pyramids tells the boy of his dream I muttered, "You've got to be kidding me."

Now I look at it with a new perspective: I've been writing other stuff that's all over the place and in a way that helps me clear my mind. I am happy with the message I've gotten out of this book. But like any piece of literature, the reader takes what they want to take out of the book. Still, travel does change a person, it makes them more worldly and appreciative of what they have. Just like Santiago missing his sheep, I miss living in the places I've already stayed. Unlike him, I haven't run into gipsies, kings, and alchemists that have helped guide me to my Personal Legend. Literature has done that**. And I'm getting closer and closer to that point where the omens are going to leave me be.

As much as I love teaching I need some sort of change in my life. If it is a complete career shift or a new challenge to face I'd take either. Going back to my resolutions though I really want to start taking more risks, and travel is the beginning of that and I hope it will spiral.  

     

*This book is Patrick Rothfuss's second book in The Chronicle of the Kingkiller sSeries: A Wise Man's Fear. This, one of my personal favourite moments in reading, was when Kvothe channels his powers and goes on a killing spree using his magical powers in the thick of a rain storm to take down a camp of enemy soldiers. Obviously, this doesn't do the event justice because this is a footnote.

**There are lots of books I could say that have inspired me to write more. For now, I'll just recommend The Element by Sir Ken Robinson, it talks about finding those people who love the same things as you and how that generates the best results for whatever it is you love to do.

The Leafs!

Morgan Rielly missed the game against the Rangers and the Leafs looked like a completely different team. Mo is a key piece to the Leafs, and his return shouldn't be rushed. The team's winning percentage is great and I thought we could give Rielly a week to rest and make sure he's 100%. Then I saw the quality of our defence without the alternate captain. Gardiner is still a liability when he's matched up against the best players but he's the best candidate to fill in for Rielly. 

The Rangers game was pretty tough to watch. Apart from Hyman's short-handed goal, the Rangers held most of the momentum and didn't give a lot up to Leafs. They were obviously very motivated after losing in their own barn to the Leafs earlier this month. I was surprised Corrado was in the line-up as opposed to Marincin. 

The battle of Ontario was disappointing. One of the commentators alluded that Sens coach Guy Boucher was playing for the shootout since the Leafs have scored a measly 6 times (one last night) all season. Honestly, if the shootout is the team's Achilles Heel, I'm okay with that. We could have a horrible powerplay or penalty kill.