“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
This line is repeated several times throughout The Alchemist, which I can’t talk about in-depth since the book club doesn’t meet until Friday. Still, it’s an intriguing little book with an underlying theme about pursuing your dreams. There are several life lessons presented in allegorical fashion, reminding the reader that things happen in their own time and that, when you are ready and have learned to read the omens and follow the right path, your dreams will open up to you. Seems simple, really, but maybe in simplicity there is truth.
The Alchemist made me think about how many times I’ve come close to getting something I wanted. Depending on whether I was really ready to fulfill my goal, I either forged ahead and achieved my goal or missed the opportunity because I faltered or back-tracked. I think my writing has been much like that. I have come painfully close to the kind of success I want, and then pulled back for fear I couldn’t live up to my own expectations. I’ve also pursued the wrong paths or tried to manipulate my dream to fit some sort of financial or marketing plan only to find that my dream doesn’t work that way.
There’s also a theory about “beginner’s luck” in the book. Getting a taste of success early on is a way for the universe to push you to keep striving for your dream. Of course, that sort of luck doesn’t hold and you eventually have to take matters into your own hands and do the hard work of continuing to pursue your dream-- or risk failure when your luck runs out. I definitely have experienced this.
The message, I suppose, is what I have always told other people: don’t give up, never give up, find what makes you happy and go for it with everything you have. So much easier to give advice than take it, yes?
I’m working on a non-fiction essay for a book about female icons. My focus is on Rosie the Riveter and her relationship to feminism, sexuality and gender identity. Except I’m not exactly sure what I’m trying to say and I think I’m contradicting myself. Is Rosie a positive role model, empowering women to reach beyond their previously limited roles of housewife and secretary, or is she a manipulative piece of propaganda, designed to lure women into the male-dominated workforce, only to be cast aside when the men returned from war? I think she was both, but I’m not sure that makes for very interesting reading.
The deadline for submissions is Friday. Maybe I’ll have some kind of inspiration between now and then.
I can do it.
I have two book club chats this week. The first is the book club I’m running as part of the summer reading program at the library. It’s for 8 to 12 year olds, which is both a challenging and rewarding age-- the kids who like to read really get into talking about books, it’s simply a matter of finding those kids. Last month’s book was Sharon Creech’s Love That Dog, which is one of my favorite juvenile books. Free verse poetry in journal format-- what’s not to love? Trust me, it’s a great little book.
Our book chat this month is scheduled for Thursday evening and the book is Bridge to Terabithia. Very different from Love That Dog, but equally wonderful. It’s a touching coming of age story about friendship and discovery and loss. The tragedy is foreshadowed and even though I knew it was coming, I wanted to believe that somehow everything would turn out okay. It reminded me in many ways of my all-time favorite children’s book, The Changeling by Zilpha Keatley Snyder. I hope the kids enjoy it, I’m really interested to hear their take on it.
Also this week, The Highly Selective Book Club With Only Two Members TM meets to discuss The Alchemist. The subtitle of the book is “A Fable About Following Your Dream,” and though I’m not finished reading it yet, I have to recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with a career decision. It’s turning out to be a delightful read.
We’re getting together on Friday and it looks like there will be two extra book club members this month as both spouses have been invited to participate. It is, of course, a once-in-a-lifetime offer as the book club must remain true to its roots. Should be an interesting discussion, though. Jae has already finished the book and he says, “Ah, there is so much to share with you. It all ties into our book. Thanks for choosing that book. You rock.”
I love it when I rock. Read The Alchemist. It rocks, too.
The topic of letting go and moving on to new, challenging (and hopefully better) things has been popping up a lot recently. I’ve had more than one conversation on the subject in relation to everything from school to jobs to writing to relationships.
In my case, I have always had a hard time accepting change. I hate disruption to my normal routine, I hate moving, I hate the awkwardness of making new friends, I hate having to start over, I hate being the new girl. I hate change. Change is scary. Change is different. Change means stepping outside the box and challenging myself. Sometimes change means failure. But…
(this is the part where the sun shines and the birds sing and I have an epiphany)
it has been my experience that change is almost always a positive thing. When I went back to college after being out for six years, I thrived. Every long distance move I’ve made has resulted in me loving my new home. I have never regretted leaving a job, though I agonized over every one. I have made wonderful friends in the most unlikely of places and felt incredible relief in being free of unhealthy relationships. And every time I have stepped outside my comfort zone in my writing, I have rediscovered my passion for it.
Change is good. Difficult, terrifying and fraught with potential disaster, but ultimately good. I need to keep reminding myself of that.
What’s it all about?
Life. Love. Writing. Editing. Sex. Books. Romance. Movies. Friendship. Photography. Teaching. Coffee. (Lots of coffee.) Travel. Feminism. Academia. Insomnia. Memories. Experiences. Rants. Raves. Reviews. Babies. Pregnancy. Motherhood. Insanity. Musings of an insomniac writer. Want to know more?
