Sometimes I feel like the last to know. Last week after watching Oprah’s interview with Paulo Coelho on Super Soul Sunday, “Oprah Church,” I made a swift trip to the library to pick up The Alchemist. I read it in one sitting and immediately uploaded it to BF’s Kindle for his enlightenment.

I emailed my numerologist, sage, and replacement mom figure, Joni, “Have you read The Alchemist?” “Yes,” she replied, “about 20 years ago and I have kept it on my bookshelf since.” Yes! my recent find was first published in 1988!

My teacher friend Krista, “Yes, I read it and loved it!”

Who knew? Well . . . apparently 65 million people before me knew and have purchased the book in 56 different languages (Wikipedia). Everyone knew!

Maybe not everyone . . . several of my reading buddies admitted to lack of the literary alchemy experience and my book club has agreed to read it for our next meeting. I have shown it to everyone who stepped into my home this week and for sure a copy will be present in the stack of book offerings I cart with me on Summer vacation in hopes that one of our offspring will pick it up.

I’m following my new discovery, Paulo Coelho, on Instagram and Twitter. Found his official writer’s blog. I may love him. (Not like BF!) He inspires me both with his fiction and his personal story as a writer and human. Maybe I wasn’t ready to hear his message or was just destined to be his 65 millionth and 1 follower, but I’m thrilled I finally discovered him and the story of Santiago.

I continue to believe in my personal Legend as a writer, and accept the challenges that come my way. And even though success seems to be moving much slower than I ever imagined, I welcome the journey and trudge on toward the Pyramids.

“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist