“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
The book 'The Alchemist' is one of my all time favourite books and *spoiler alert* the journey of the boy in pursuit of his dream is a very literal take on our own pursuit of happiness. Upon dreaming of buried treasure beneath the Pyramids, the boy, seeking advice of others, embarks upon an adventure, crossing the sea and travelling across Africa to seek his treasure.
It sounds straight forward, but the book looks to delve into the conscious decision making and barriers that can often stop our dreams. From making that first decision and step to change your life, to the many challenges and barriers that we face along the way. The journey in pursuit of a dream is just as exciting as the the end result (which isn't always what we think it'll be).
When we decided upon moving to Italy, there were numerous challenges and barriers, difficulties and problems that caused huge stress. But at the same time, the universe conspired to make it worthwhile, and helped us to achieve it
School
Sabi was worried about the school system in Italy being less hands on and engaging as the UK and was only sold on the idea once we found 'Asilo nel Bosco' in Pianfei (a town about 10 minute drive from our chosen house). It meant we could send the kids to a more open, wood school where practical activities, free play, and a 'child first' philosophy were prominent. There are only a handful of these types of schools in Italy and to have one so close felt like fate and a sign that our decision was the right one.
Cash monies.
While we had planned to have savings to support us when we got here. There was a underlying worry of money when we got here. Both sets of parents expressed their concerns about how we would survive. Afterall, I was leaving a relatively safe and well-paid position at the start of a potential career to go to a country where I'd have no chance of replicating it. We were moving a country where I don't speak the language and Sabi hasn't lived for over 15 years, without jobs (or prospects for jobs for me!).
Upon our arrival Sabi embarked on a nervous search for work as our potential expenses started to rack up (and our financial budget was expanding with new things that needed doing). However, within a week, she had a job, not her dream job, and certainly not a long term job, but one she is good at and one that helps keep our spending under control (a job just as the boy in the alchemist had to get before his dream got back on track). This week, I too have had a meeting with the founder of the wood school and been offered a job, initially a trial with the nursery before a real start in July/August next year moving on to the primary.
It is everything we had hoped for. That's not to say we haven't struggled and still face numerous challenges on our way through life, but for now, these are huge steps forward that make those initial early steps and decisions feel like exactly the right ones, even when it felt like everything was going wrong.
I'll leave you with these words, taken from the Alchemist, which if you haven't already, I highly recommend you read, and if you have, I highly recommend you read it again. It should be available at all good bookstores (and if you can avoid Amazon, all the better).
“It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
