July’s Joy Book
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Is there anything better than spending time outside in the sunshine enjoying a good book during the summertime?
It’s truly one of my favorite parts of this season, and I’m so excited to share that this month’s (fiction!) joy book is a great one to spend outside with… it is… The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho!
Keep reading to learn more about it!
About the Book
If I had to pick a favorite fiction novel, honestly The Alchemist would be a leader in the running —I don’t know if I could pick ONE favorite haha!
I first came upon this book as a senior in high school where it was one of our last official English books to read.
After years and years of not enjoying a lot of the books, I didn’t have any expectations for this book.
Then, when we started it, I immediately fell in love with it.
It’s a story about adventure, love, faith, and—above all else, in my opinion— finding and living your calling in life.
In the book, we met the protagonist, Santiago, who is a shepherd in Southern Spain. When we meet him, we learn that he keeps having the same dream over and over again which tells him to travel to Egypt’s pyramids where treasure awaits. When he goes to a gypsy to help him understand it, the woman tells him to go there. Then, an old man by the name of Melchizedek, tells the same thing to Santiago, only a step further—he convinces Santiago to sell his flock and actually depart for Africa. He also tells Santiago that this journey he’s about to embark on is part of his “Personal Legend”.
What follows is a remarkable story of what happens when you lean into your faith and intuition to follow what your life’s “personal legend” is.
“The closer one gets to realizing his Personal Legend, the more that Personal Legend becomes his true reason for being […] “
Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist
Questions to Ask Yourself
*Authenticity Note: I’m personally not a person who uses guided reading questions—feels a little too school-y for when you are reading for fun! I kept that in mind when developing these questions with the intention and hope they are useful and fun to think about!
A Final Note on Joy
There’s a quote in The Alchemist that explains what a Personal Legend is… “ It’s what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is.”
Every single one of us is born with a purpose here.
As children—like the quote above says— we know what it is. And we tend to trust what it says.
As we get older though, we tend to be more afraid of what this calling is. How? When? What? Where? are common questions we ask when we think about this calling in life. As a result, it tends to get shoved aside.
But, our soul knows what it is. It’s always guiding us towards it.
However, many don’t have the courage to actually listen and follow the calling.
Oftentimes, this path of following your “Personal Legend” or your calling entails a lot of faith, a lot of trust, and a large amount of trusting the uncertain.
As someone who is currently living and following their own personal legend, I have to say— it is truly the scariest thing to actually do. To have the courage to go after your dreams… THAT is bravery.
And yet, I can also say (though I am in midst of so much unknown myself), I can say with absolute trust that it is so worth it.
To follow what your soul is telling you, there is no greater treasure… or joy.
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Get the Book…
Want to read this month’s joy book? This month’s book is a great read for summertime!
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