Wisdom is our Guide

Risks and Obstacles

Santiago, the protagonist in the Alchemist is a very unique character. His life is one that is isolated from the world. A young boy sets out on a journey, to literally follow his dreams. He almost doubted he could make it; he thought he would fail the moment he set to sail. Though Santiago was aware of the fact that he could so easily fail, many thoughts and understanding in the quest got him through. Thoughtfulness, spirituality, and resilience are the three traits that help Santiago to succeed in his destiny.

Before setting out on his journey, Santiago took a lot of time to think about what he really wanted. He asked himself if he really wanted the treasure, and if he didn’t, could he accept the fact that it was just a dream not meant to be followed? It was a matter of thought and understanding things. Even when he was out on his journey, all knowledge he received from the people he met, he thought of carefully. He always thought of his journey, whether the Soul of the World was relevant to him in any way. The more he thought about it, the more he understood that life required a large amount of thinking. Each step required thought, and on his journey to seek his destiny, Santiago did just that. He thought about each leap he was making, being smart and wise as to not fall into any traps.

Having faith in something you might fail in is a difficult trust to regain. Santiago took that risk, and went along his journey trusting his gut to guide him. There were so many obstacles along the way, but Santiago stuck to his soul, his spirit, and never doubted it for a second. He followed the movement of the birds, trying to read something into it. P.95. The quote shows he believes in omens coming his way, and though he may not understand them, he knows to trust God. He has a spirit that won’t die, for it’s achieved when you believe in God.

One way to feel satisfied is to have resilience, and that’s just who Santiago is. Someone who’s determined; not willing to turn anything down. On his journey to achieve his destiny, many opportunities were thrown at him, giving him a chance each time. Though there were many risks, Santiago hated to leave it all just for fear of failure. He knew that if he failed, that would be okay, because not everybody succeeded in life. It was when he could be the most vulnerable that he took a challenge at life, seizing the day. In everything Santiago did, he all but turned anything down.

Achieving your own destiny might be a hard task, but if you persevere, you can succeed without fail. In the Alchemist, Santiago uses thoughtfulness, spirituality, and resilience to help him reach his destiny. A life where there are many obstacles, you have to be strong in order to overcome your fears of things getting in your way. When life gets difficult, don’t let other people take you through life, because each decision someone else makes might change your whole destiny. It’s when you take control of your own life and not let other people drive you through that you know you’re the leader of your own destiny.

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Wisdom assists many people in their lives; I happen to be one of those people. Experiences teach all of us what certain things are like, and whether or not we should fall into any traps on purpose. Wisdom guides us through life carefully, being patient, allowing us to take the time and reflect on our decisions and past mistakes. Your own past tells you what road to take, what obstacles to look out for. When you know what to look out for on your journey through life, other peoples' opinions don't matter as much as what you think. You guide yourself based off of wisdom, because it's a force that makes you take control of your own life. No one knows yourself better than you, and that's why I'm a participant in my own destiny; my journey through life is my own, and no one else's.