The Alchemist

by Paulo Coelho

When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision.

At school, I realized that I was able to express my feelings through writing. When I first decided to pay the price of my dream—to become a writer—I already knew that my mother could be right: nobody reads in Brazil, I would never be able to succeed. But I was not paralyzed by her advice, and I fought against all odds, because I needed more enthusiasm in life. There were moments that I was overcome by anxiety, or frustration, but I was wise enough to burn all my ships before engaging in my own adventure. There was no way back. Therefore, I see the future as a result of the present moment, and I see the present moment as a result of decisions that I was capable to take at the right time, against all advice.