Today’s guest blogger is Lauren from one of my favourite lifestyle blogs. I hope you enjoy this wonderful post! It’s definitely pertinent to me at this moment in my life.

Thank you so much Claire for having me. I’m Lauren and I blog over at agirlsimagination. For my guest post I wanted to share some inspiration with you. I am a big dreamer and currently living out my dream, touring Canada. The lead up to making this dream a reality was tough but we got there. I just wish I had the following wisdom before I set off.

As a young child, your parents likely told you that you can follow your dreams in life, be and do anything you want. As an adult, many of us find ourselves wishing we had followed through on a dream but didn’t because of responsibilities, our careers or financial commitments. So instead we try to instil in our children to follow their dreams, whatever they maybe, forgetting that we too received that same advice.

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I recently read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and felt completely inspired and confident in my choice to have left my life back in the UK for a lifestyle and career in Canada. Being such a life changing decision and missing family and friends, wobbly days are guaranteed. I just wish I had read Coelho’s novel years ago.

He tells such a beautiful story through a wonderfully descriptive narrative about a young shepherd who dreams of travelling the world in search of treasure only Kings were privy to. He encounters many obstacles along the way that make him doubt giving up his home and income but remembers the words of a wise man he met at the beginning of his journey.

Coelho’s story is packed full of inspiring quotes. The one that has stayed with me, that I would like to share, is that if you really want something in life “the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” The narrative explains, after time things around you will begin to convince you that it’s not possible to reach your destiny. It is important to remember what you want and in remembering this you will reach your goal. Think about times when you’ve really wanted something and things that you’ve needed to organise in order to get there have seemed to come together seamlessly.

When we were planning to leave for Canada, making endless lists of all the things we needed to do, plucking up the courage to tell my employer, I felt overwhelmed at times, asking myself ‘am I doing the right thing?’ You also have people around you telling you that you’re mad for giving up a good job and your house in order to go to Canada where nothing is determined. Coelho talks about these people too, who instil their fears of following their own dreams within you.

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Dreams do not have to be as dramatic as going off in search of treasure or moving to a new country. Whether it be starting a small business on the side, writing a blog post about something your heart feels strongly about, going in search of a job where you can have it all, whatever your heart tells you, if you see it through you will be rewarded with “richness”. Not necessarily in the financial sense but a richness of life. Coelho says this is the most sacred thing of all.

If you are looking for an easy read (it only took me 3 days) and an inspirational story, this is the novel for you. Whether you have a dream right now or not, everyone can take something positive away from this narrative that will enrich your life in some way.

Be sure to check out Lauren’s blog at agirlsimagination and do share with us if you feel inspired to follow your dreams!