I remember the first time I read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It felt like a conversation with an old friend—one who knew my heart before I did. A book about dreams, omens, and the journey to self-discovery, yet somehow, it mirrored my own life in ways I hadn’t fully realized.
There’s a passage in the book that has stayed with me:
"When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."
I used to believe that meant things would fall into place effortlessly. That if I followed my passions, the road would be smooth, paved with clear signs leading to my destination. But life, as I’ve come to understand, doesn’t work that way. The signs don’t always scream at you. Sometimes, they whisper. Sometimes, they come disguised as obstacles, forcing you to pause, rethink, and recalibrate.
Looking back, I see how I’ve followed my own signs—sometimes knowingly, sometimes blindly. Leaving behind a stable career in the UK to follow my husband to Japan was a leap into the unknown. But the signs were there: a chance to explore, to reset, to dive into the things I’d always wanted to do but never had the time for. It was a pause that allowed me to see my work in a new light, to remember why I love building things, why technology should serve people, not just function for them.
Even now, as I prepare to return to my career, the signs continue to guide me. They remind me that every step I’ve taken, even the detours, has led me to where I need to be. They tell me not to fear starting over, not to compare my journey with anyone else’s.
In The Alchemist, Santiago, the shepherd boy, travels far and wide only to discover that what he was searching for had been within him all along. I think we all have our own Personal Legends to follow. Sometimes, we just need to slow down, pay attention, and trust the journey.
Because the universe does conspire—but only when we are willing to listen.
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