If Today Was Your Last Day

My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had, if today was your last day?
What if, what if, if today was your last day?

Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the price is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you're never living twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?

And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?

If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are

So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothing stand in your way
'Cause the hands of time are never on your side

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?

And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?

-Nickleback

The song 'If Today Was Your Last Day' is showing the world that you should not always get hung up in the past or future. You should live in the present. Many people are selfish and are always thinking of ways to make everything more convenient for themselves while there are people out there who have nothing at all yet think nothing of themselves and try to help others. This song is trying to show you that every day could be your last and no matter what you should try to help not only yourself but everyone around you. You can't rewind to the past so whatever happened, happened and can't be changed so move on with your life and start fresh if you must. It also conveys the message that it is never too late to follow your dreams. You should always believe in your own strength, and that will get you through anything. Some people are only week because they believe they are week but when they find their strength and believe in themselves they can be the strongest person on Earth. Believing and dreaming is very important but acting out your dreams and beliefs for the good of others is what really keeps the world spinning round.

A Little Patience Goes a Long Way

Patience awaits beyond the borders of time
wearing her mighty shield of eternal composure
with her timeless dignity always waiting quietly

Leonardo Da Vinci
Study of a Woman

In The Alchemist Santiago must go through many obstacles to get to his destiny. Many times these obstacles require Santiago to be patient and wait for a the right moment. When Santiago first decides to go pursue his dream he makes sure that he has the beginning of his journey well planned out. He was patient when he had to wait and prepare to leave on this exciting adventure. When he was robbed he had to be patient and wait until he had enough money to set back into his journey. Then when he finally had enough money he had to be patient on the long journey across the desert and then there was war so he had to wait at the Oasis. Some people believe that patience is useless, but as you can see, a little of it can get you a long way.

Life's True Meaning

“But I’m going in search of my treasure” the boy said “I’m very close to it now” (Coelho148) In the Alchemist a young shepherd boy name Santiago is in search of his treasure. He has dreamt of this treasure, which is hidden beneath the great pyramids of Egypt, in his sleep and is now determined to follow his destiny. On his way he encounters many obstacles, but, he also meets some wise people who help him learn about the many important things in life. Achieving his destiny is not the only thing Santiago conquers on this journey, he also finds love and wisdom, but he still has a long way ahead to reach his treasure. Although Santiago must go through a long journey to achieve his destiny, he finally conquers it by being adventurous, by adapting to his environments, and by having respect for the individuals he encounters on his way.

Santiago’s adventurousness starts him off on this thrilling journey. He is adventurous enough to go after a treasure he isn’t even sure exists. He sets off into the desert not even knowing what awaits his there, in that never ending sea of sand. On his way through the desert he finds that there is war between the tribes and he must stop at the Oasis to stay safe until the wars have ended. There he meets Fatima and immediately falls in love, but even with the wars going on, and now his true love by his side, Santiago is determined to finish the adventure he started. When he finally reaches the pyramids and begins to dig, a boy comes to him and beats him, then states to him, “Two years ago right here on this spot, I had a recurrent dream, two. I dreamed that I should travel to the fields of Spain and look for a ruined church where shepherds and their sheep slept. In my dream, there was a sycamore growing out of the ruins of the sacristy, and I was told that, if I dug at the roots of the sycamore, I would find a hidden treasure.” (Coelho 155) As the boy says this, Santiago realizes that his won treasure is at that sycamore tree where he began his journey. He crossed the desert not to find his treasure but to discover, love, wisdom, and that not everything in life is so simple. And like Santiago always does, he makes himself comfortable with the situation and adventurously sets back to Andalusia.

Santiago easily adapts to any environment, he is challenged with. When Santiago first embarks on his adventure and must leave his home, he easily adapts to the fields of Andalusia, and the company of his sheep helps him. Then he goes to Tarifa, where he meets the old king of Salem, Melchizedek, who helps Santiago adapt to the idea of going after the treasure which appears in his recurrent dreams. Later the boy meets a crystal merchant who lets Santiago work at his shop until Santiago has enough money to go to Egypt. Santiago easily adapts to his new job and tries to help the crystal merchant sell better by making some changes for the better. The crystal merchant does not like change, but Santiago helps him settle in with the new ideas which would change the shop for the better. “And, as he smothered the coals in the hookah, he told the boy that he could begin to sell tea in the crystal glasses. ‘Sometimes, there’s just no way to hold back the river.’”(Coelho 56) When Santiago finally has enough money to continue his journey Santiago thanks the merchant and gets on a caravan to go to the pyramids. He quickly becomes used to life in the desert and the Englishman who is with him on the caravan, helps Santiago learn about the Soul of the World, “the principle that governs all things.” (Coelho 75) When they get to the Oasis in the middle of the desert and Santiago meets his true love, Fatima he then again adapts to living there, but he also meets the alchemist who encourages him to continue his pursuit of the treasure, and they set out into the once desert again. Santiago meets some Bedouins on his way who are very suspicious of them, yet Santiago does not feel the urge to treat them badly.

Santiago meets many people along this journey and shows respect to each and every one, even his enemies. When Santiago first decides to leave his home and go off to be shepherd, his father does not agree with this idea, and although Santiago is desperate to go see the world, he respects his father and his Father’s ideas. Because of this respects he ends up being granted permission to leave and follow his dreams. When Santiago meets Melchizedek, Santiago respects the old king even if Santiago finds him annoying. In commence of this respect Santiago learns that he must follow his destiny, which is to go after the treasure. When he reaches the Oasis in the desert, he has a vision of a war and goes to the chief of the Oasis to explain his vision. The chief does not believe Santiago, yet he sends guards and although Santiago is threatened with death if there is not a war, Santiago respects the Chief. “Throughout the entire day we will be on the look out for our enemies. When the sun sets, the men will once again surrender their arms to me. For every ten dead me among our enemies, you will receive a piece of gold.”(Coelho 103) In return the chief rewards him after the war comes and all the enemies are killed. In this village Santiago also meets the Alchemist who at first is very threatening and scary to Santiago, but Santiago still shows respect for him and in return is not killed. “In his heart, he felt a strange sense of joy: he was about to die in pursuit of his destiny.”(Coelho 105) The boy is not angry at the Alchemist and is not blaming him for ruining his journey and not allowing him to reach his destiny. His respect is always rewarded and appreciated.

Santiago believes that he can achieve his destiny even if there are many obstacles to prevent him from doing this. He leaves his home in Andalusia, Spain to go after the treasure he has dreamt so much about, only to find that his treasure is really at a ruined church, right where he began his journey. He learns from many people he meets along the way that you must overcome many obstacles to achieve your destiny. He does this by being adventurous, adaptable, and respectful. Santiago’s adventurous spirit gets him started on his journey and keeps him going until he achieves it. By adapting to whichever environment or situation he is placed in, he easily gets through the difficulties of his journey. By respecting others, he is respected back and admired for this. With these traits he achieves not only his destiny but he also finds love, wisdom and life’s true meaning. All of this comes together as, life’s true meaning

My Creative Mind

In my life i have always been able to use my creativity, whether it is for a piece in art, or a poem in humanities. I am always able to use it to enrich my work and knowledge. As I am not yet very far in this journey of my life I have not acquired the knowledge of what my destiny is, but I know that creativity will help me in unearthing what it is and help me achieve it. Creativity will help me through my journey not only to discover my destiny but also to continue pursuing it after I have unraveled it. Although creativity can come in very handy, sometimes it can just get me off task and upset me when it is not appreciated. Some things require more strict knowledge and not only a creative mind. But creativity is something that will always represent me no matter in what subject or situation.

Jennifers Painting