The Alchemist pt. 1

Talk about following your dreams. An excerpt from the introduction of the novel....

Whenever we do something that fills us with enthusiasm, we are following our legend. However, we don't all have the courage to confront our dream.

Why?

There are four obstacles. First: we are told from child-hood onward that everything we want to do is impossible. We grow up with this idea, and as the years accumulate, so too do the layers of prejudice, fear, and guilt. There comes a time when our personal calling is so deeply buried in our soul as to be invisible. But it's still there.

If we have the courage to disinter dream, we are then faced by the second obstacle: love. We know what we want to do, but are afraid of hurting those around us by abandoning everything in order to pursue our dream. We do not realize that those who genuinely wish us well want us to be happy and are prepared to accompany us on that journey.

Once we have accepted that love is a stimulus, we come up against the third obstacle: fear of the defeats we will meet on the path. We who fight for our dream suffer far more when it doesn't work out, because we cannot fall back on the old excuse: "Oh, well, I didn't really want it anyway." We do want it and know that we have staked everything on it and that the path of the personal calling is no easier than any other path, except that our whole heart is in this journey. Then, we warriors of light must be prepared to have patience in difficult times and to know that the Universe is conspiring in our favor, even though we may not understand how.

I ask myself: are defeats necessary?

Well, necessary or not, they happen. When we first begin fighting for our dream, we have no experience and make many mistakes. The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and get up eight times.

So why is it important to live our personal calling if we are only going to suffer more than other people?

Because, once we have overcome the defeats and we always do, we are filled by a greater sense of euphoria and confidence. In the silence of our hearts, we know that we are proving ourselves worthy of the miracle of life. Each day, each hour, is part of the good fight. We start to live with enthusiasm and pleasure. Intense, unexpected suffering passes more quickly than suffering that is apparently bearable; the latter goes on for years and, we are no longer able to free ourselves from the bitterness and it stays with us for the rest of our lives.

Having disinterred our dream, having used the power of love to nurture it and spent many years living with the scars, we suddenly notice that what we always wanted is there, waiting for us, perhaps the very next day. Then comes fourth obstacle: the fear of realizing the dream for which we fought all of our lives.

Oscar Wilde said: "Each man kills the thing he loves." And it's true. The mere possibility of getting what we want fills the soul of the ordinary person with guilt. We look around at all those who have failed to get what they want and feel that we do not deserve to get what we want either. We forget about all the obstacles we overcame, all the suffering we endured, all the things we had to give up in order to get this far. I have known a lot of people who, when their personal calling was within their grasp, went on to commit a series of stupid mistakes and never reached their goal, when it was only a step away.

This is the most dangerous of the obstacles because it has a kind of saintly aura about it: renouncing joy and conquest. But if you believe yourself worthy of the thing you fought so hard to get, then you become an instument of God, you help the soul of the world, and you understand why you are here.

-Paulo Coelho



Half way done with the book. Just keeps getting better and better. Feed your mind and read it. ;) Review coming later.

The Fall of Troy

Once again, the Trojans managed to beat....themselves. Yes we lost 27-21 to an unranked opponent in which we had a 21 point spread, but the fact of the matter is, we dug our own hole, and now USC no longer controls its fate.

If there is ANY weakness on this Trojan squad, its certainly not the "inexperienced" O-line, the first year qb Mark Sanchez, the corner backs, the D-line, or the water boys, etc, it is simply the inability to get ready for a shitty team. The Trojans ALWAYS get up for the big games, demonstrating unprecedented prowess & grace. What plagues the Trojans is that theres always one game in which they end up overlooking the opponent, see UCLA, '06, Stanford '07. It's a pattern that really started during the '05 season in which Lienart & Bush led the way. The Trojans would constantly find themselves down early but they knew they, with their fire power, that they would come back. It's a dangerous game to play because sooner or later the ice will break.

It's really easy to come in to a game thinking your gonna smash the opponent especially when practically everyone on your team is the # 1 skilled player in the nation at their position. The truth is, they are so good that they can lose focus and get lost in the hype. I tip my hat off to Oregon State, they still had to make the plays necessary to win. All the Trojans can do now, is continue to execute and play hard and hope the SEC will cancel each other out. The SEC conference is extremely tough that you none of their teams will escape unbeaten.
A Trip to the BCS game is still in reach. Just do your part, Trojans and let the rest fall into place.

Fight On.

Order Restored.

35-3. That is what the scoreboard read at the end of game in which ESPN labeled, "Collision at the Coliseum." The contest seemed more like a collision between a big rig/Optimus Prime and a Mazda Miata (no offense). Coach Carroll has what may be his best defense since he took over during the Carson Palmer years. The offense looks reliable once again as though it has finally found the long ball which had been absent the past couple of years while Booty was at the helm. During the Leinart & Bush years, you always felt that no matter what kind of trouble USC would be in, they would always come back and strike when they needed too. The feeling is back and even better than ever.

It's incredible to see the enthusiasm the Trojans display during each game, which in contrast is quite the opposite of other teams. While other coaches coach through fear, Carroll preaches preparation through enthusiasm and opportunity. When you have done everything in your power to practice, it's no wonder why on game day the Trojans are jumping up and feeling loose while the other sideline is stiff and boring.

Big ups to Mark Sanchez for repping his Mexican heritage with his three color mouthpiece. "He is proud of his heritage and the mouthpiece is a “portrayal of his love for his heritage.” Sanchez takes his position on the team as a place to showcase his heritage and to share it with youth who may look up to him." It's not everyday that you see Mexican athletes in the spotlight, so I thought it was extremely courageous to see Mark display the mouthpiece despite receiving negative criticism from some haters last year.

Although Saturday's game was one to remember, the Trojans must not forgot what got them there. If they can continue to put forth the effort and preparation all season, then you can count on them in the national championship game. Prediction, USC vs Oklahoma. Trojans 49, Sooners 14.

A Hunting We Will Go.... Not.

Every year right before labor day, my relatives and I go hunting in Wickenburg, Arizona. It is a family tradition that has been going on for over 20 years now. What really sucks balls is that after going for 8 years in a row, I haven't been able to attend the past two years for various reasons, but this year, I was certain I would finally be able to get back into the swing of things. Unfortunately, I had to back out at the last minute. It was a very difficult decision, but one that is best for me and that I do not regret. Right now school is at the top of my priorities and with this semester being my last, I want to try my hardest to not only succeed, but excel. I simply cannot afford to miss any classes because of the great deal of material that is covered. I do admit I feel really bad about not being able to go, mostly because of my Grandfather. He is a man that I admire greatly. He helped my mother raise us when my Father was playing professional baseball in Mexico. He is a very funny man, always making light of every situation, and I believe that is where I get my personality from.

The past couple of years I have not been able to visit my grandparents as often as I would like and I know he looks forward to these hunting trips because we get to spend quality time with each other. That is what made this decision so tough. I realize he does not have many years left and I would love to maximize the time I spend with him, but I've reached a point in my life where I must put my foot down on my priorities. I shouldn't have to feel guilty about not going and not pleasing other peoples wishes. I know I am going to get crap from my uncles saying that "I bailed" and whatever but you know what, at the end of the day, I will be the one smiling because I know I have worked hard and dedicated myself to my goals in which I will achieve. I am going to make a conscious effort to visit my grandparents more often and go to the shooting range at least once a month with him. It's hard making time for anything especially trying to handle 6 classes, part-time work & my band which should pick up again soon, but there's a way where there's a will.

I hope you will understand Grandpa that from the bottom of my heart, I would have loved to be their with you guys, but I am making sacrifices that will enable me to do well in school just how you and Grandma always told me, "Keep up with your homework and never give up on school." Above anything else my grandparents are my leading motivation to graduate and to excel in college. I want to make them proud and let them know that I will be fine and that I will have a great future in which they have always imagined. Although I will receive my diploma in January, I have to wait a whole semester to walk because our school only does spring semester commencement ceremonies, so I know it will all be worth it on that sunny day in May of '09 when I walk over to the podium and shake hands with the president of our school on congratulating me for graduating. Then I will look over to my grandparents and see that smile on their face and think, damn its been one long grueling and exhausting journey but i made it, just like i promised.... now onto grad school.... hopefully at USC.


Dream Big, Dream Often.