“Everybody, when they are young, knows what their personal legend is. They yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them. But as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their personal legend. The mysterious force is a force that appears to be negative, but actually shows you how to realize your personal legend. It prepares your spirit and your will - It's your mission on earth. To realize it is a person's only real obligation. And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." From The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho My younger son is leaving on a trip to Amsterdam. A trip he dreamt, planned, and financed himself for a whole year. Part of me wants to protest the distance that is separating him from me. Part of me wants to wish an excellent wind in his sails to go and see and learn. I am reminded of the first day I taught him how to cross the street in Tehran. “Look to your left, look to your right, look to your left again, and go…run.” I waited for him to cross the street, as his little hand slipped out of mine, and off he went. My heart was beating so hard. It would have been so much easier to hold on to his hand and to walk him across the street. So much safer it was. But, he needed to learn to cross the street for himself to be able to get to the other side of the street, where his world was going to begin. Part of the pain of parenthood is to help your children go, go cross that street, go cross that ocean, go look for their “personal legend.” As he bounces around with joy and excitement, getting ready to leave, I brave the pain and hold still with a reassuring smile on my face. He goes to find the world and his personal legend, and I feel lost, staying on my side of the street.
5/27/2007
Personal Legend
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12 comments:
Nazy jan, I gotta say this post is the sweetest one I have ever read in ur blog. I am touched, let him go, don't worry he will cross the road and he will turn back to you from the other side of street and proudly smiles at you.
I remmber when I was 18 I took a trip by myself from Italy to switzerland and Austria to find my legend, I have never found it because that mysterious force came along I returned with no Personal legend but I was one step close to my mission on earth
Well, Mehran Jan, and this is the sweetest comment ever! Thank you for the advice my friend. I am grateful for it right now.
Nazi janam,
wish best for him.
You are a great mom. I never had a chance to go for my personal legend, but I think personal legond came to me.
Well,
I am still looking for my dreams. I have alot to do and lot to go. I dont want stop at the point I am now, so I wish one day, I go for my personal legend as well.
Good for him, and good for you.
Dear Nazy khanum,
It was a cool post. I wish I had a chance to be with my mom, hold her hand and learn how to cross the street, one day. well, it never happened, but it's still all good because if my mom wasn't there to pass me cross the street, I learned how to do it partly by my dad and mostly by myself, however, this goal was achieved after a few accidents!
About the "Personal Legend," I must say I have found it right over here in the U.S.
Lets open my eyes and look more clear.What else on this big planet could help me and guide me to find my "P.L."?
Nothing else, but my lovely mom, America!
Yup, she is the one!
Nazy Joonam: There is absolutely no need for you to feel lost. If it weren't for you, and that very day that you remember teaching him to cross the street alone, he probably never would have had the "spirit" to go after his desires. I won't call the going to Amsterdam his personal legend, but I believe that being the kind of person who is such a free-spirited individual and would choose a foreign country and just go for it, that state of mind, that is the achievement of the personal legend, and you are the person who instilled that kind of identity in him. So, you are always with him and he with you, so again, there is no need to feel lost!
اينها رو كه مي نويسي آينده خودم رو مي بينم. روزي كه بايد به سينا ياد بدم كه از خيابون رد بشه. روزي كه بايد بهش ياد بدم كه بره مدرسه . روزي كه بايد رانندگي ياد بگيره و روزي كه بشينم خونه و تحمل كنم تا برسه اون طرف درياها و به من زنگ بزنه. استقلال و وابستگي در كنار هم در وجود مادر وجود داره. مادرها هم از مستقل شدن بچه لذت مي برن و هم درد مي كشن. دردي كه بچه ها تا وقتي كه خودشون تبديل به والدين نشن نمي فهمن!
My Dear Leva, Vahid, Assal, And Shin:
Thank you all so much for your kind words, sentiments, and advice. It is reassuring to hear them from you all who are young and have each stepped into your future with dedication and commitment. Yes, Leva, i agree that sometimes our "personal legend" comes to us. Thanks again.
wow! My baby just turned one and I am totally on your side of the street already! Amazing how I found your post freeing the guilt of feeling bittersweet for my baby's growing! Thanks!
Nimshab Jan:
Thank you for your sweet comment. A one-year-old! You must have your hands full my dear! Yes, the minute they are born, they are "individals" separate and independent of us, and it takes such a little time before they show and insist upon their own individuality, and off they go. Enjoy these beautiful and blissful years of having them as guests in your home. Come back soon.
Thanks a lot for your kindness. I came here to see who you are! and I found a lovely, considerate woman and a mother who does her best to give her child a unique experience- a much better weblog than I expected! I am glad that you want those open wings for you and for him. I wish I could act the same way now when my son is older. kisses!
Yek Negahe Azizam. Thanks for coming and thanks for taking me up on my game invitation. I have read your post and it is very interesting. I will come and comment on the post directly. I am so glad you have such good English, too! Come back again anytime, and leave me comments in either Farsi or English. Thanks again.
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