Maktub In The Alchemist

A few years ago, someone told me of an ancient Greek legend. According to them, humans had originally been created with four arms, four legs, and two faces. Zeus, fearing their power, split them into two separate parts, condemning them to spend the rest of their existence searching for their other halves. In a way, the Greeks trusted that finding their soul mates was meant to be, that it was their destiny, in other words, maktub.

To understand maktub in full clarity, you would have to be an arab, but the closest translation of maktub there is to our language would be something like "it is written". Ever since I read the phrase in a book by Paulo Coelho back in 10th grade, I felt as if it spoke to me. I was amazed at how I had stumbled across

Because every moment in your life, no matter how insignificant it may seem, has contributed to the person you are at this point in your life. "A butterfly flaps its wings, and it starts to rain", I find this quote hauntingly beautiful, capturing the essence that we are all connected. Sometimes, it seems as if everything in your life isn't going your way, it's mistake after mistake, it's just. too. hard. I could tell you it will get better, that it's all going to be okay, and maybe you won't want to hear it, because it's such a cliché, but it's the truth. Because pain is temporary, and not only that, it's also necessary. All those who know me well, know that when things go wrong, I make a reference to the universe, that it has a plan for each and everyone of us, and if it's out of your control, then what is the point of stressing over it? We learn from mistakes, we learn when we screw up, we learn when we get hurt, we learn from experience. We must all go through our share of ups and downs, all so we can end up at the right place at the right

I was 15 when my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer. To this day I can't clearly remember the girl I was before that, because his death changed me. At the time I was so closed-minded, I still foolishly believed the world was nothing more than a ray of sunshine. My grandfather lived a long and happy life, he went in peace. He had to go. I would've never had wished for him to leave us, but as much as it hurts, I wouldn't change it. Because it was meant to happen that way, and my life would be completely different if he hadn't gotten sick. It helped me grow. I learned nothing lasts forever, so you have to enjoy it while it's there. You have to take a chance, you have to risk it all, because if you don't, you'll always have the doubt of what could've happen, the great "what if?" Every choice we make, each course of action we decide on, how we handle the hardships life throws at us, contributes to our final outcome. I don't believe in coincidences, I see them more like signs from the universe. Ever since November 2012, I have tried to make sure I don't miss out on anything, and so far, I have no