The Traveler's Gift, written by Andy Andrews, was actually a real gift given to me by one of my staff members who highly recommended this book based upon what it personally did for her. She knew I liked reading books such as Ohio State Football Coach Jim Tressel's book, The Winners Manual, and thought The Traveler's Gift would be right up my alley. She was right.
Andrew's writes a fictional story about a successful businessman, husband and father, David Ponder, who suddenly loses his job due to a hostile takeover, and helplessly watches his family fall into financial ruin. While his daughter needs an emergency tonsillectomy and his health care and savings all but evaporated, Ponder reaches the end of his rope. Racing through the Texas countryside to clear his head, Ponder wonders if ending his own life would somehow bring relief, at least financially because of his life insurance policy, to his family. Not realizing that his speed had increased to dangerous levels, Ponder has a horrific auto accident, which is where the story truly begins.
Over the remainder of the book, Ponder is transported through time and events to meet with seven different historical figures who impart on him wisdom and writings of specific "Decisions for Success" that he must be committed to make in order to have the life he is capable of having. From Christopher Columbus on the Santa Maria, to Abraham Lincoln before delivering the Gettysburg Address, David Ponder embarks on a remarkable and inspiring journey that ends by showing him what impact his life could have on the future if he would simply activate the power of his own thinking.
Ponder awakes in a hospital room with his wife by his side. Relieved that he hadn't died, he shrugged that his experiences must have been a dream, until the nurse gave him his personal affects which included a few stunning items.
Without giving the book completely away, The Traveler's Gift was not only enjoyable for its entertainment value, but I also found it to be personally impactful and inspiring. The seven decisions addressed by the historical characters aren't anything anyone probably hasn't heard before, but reinforced that we must be in control of ourselves mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally and financially and our thinking does have a tremendous impact on the outcome of our lives.
To finish with a quote from one of the seven decisions: "If I associate with chickens, I will learn to scratch at the ground and squabble over crumbs. If I associate with eagles, I will learn to soar to great heights. I am an eagle. It is my destiny to fly."
The Alchemist, written by Paulo Coelho, was a book that gained my interest after seeing an interview by actor Will Smith where he discussed the power his belief system had in his success, and referenced The Alchemist as an example of his thinking. Like The Travelers Gift, The Alchemist touched upon the power your mind has on the circumstances of your life.
Also an easy read and a good story, Coelho introduces the reader to a Spanish shepherd boy named Santiago. Against the wishes of his parents, Santiago abandons the monastery to become a shepherd in order to travel and see sights he'd only dreamed about. After having a vivid and recurring dream that he was destined to find treasure at the Egyptian pyramids, Santiago begins his adventure. Over the course of the tale, he converses with a king, loses his life savings three times, helps a crystal merchant become wildly successful, joins a Saharan caravan, finds the love of his life, becomes chief council to the elders of an enormous desert oasis, and with the help of an alchemist, discovers much more than treasure.
The premise of The Alchemist is that each of us has a purpose, or "Personal Legend", in our lives. Most people, because of fear, disbelief or a variety of other reasons, never realize their true purpose for being here and lead their lives although happy, but unfulfilled and always wondering what their life could have been if they had the courage to go after their dream. Santiago learns over his journey, with the help of the alchemist, that all things come from the creator and if he could realize his connection to all things and open his heart to the "Soul of the World" he would recognize the omens by which God speaks to him to move him to his Personal Legend.
I found the premise of recognizing omens to be very similar to the Celistine Prophecy's assertion that coincidences are not really coincidences at all, but signs that guide you to your destiny. The Alchemist is a smartly told story with a clever twist at the end, that has been enjoyed by millions worldwide, including me.
Feel free to share your thoughts on this post by clicking the "Comments" link below.
No comments:
Post a Comment