Can an ignored blessing really be a curse?

“You have been a real blessing to me. Today, I understand something I didn’t see before: every blessing ignored becomes a curse. I don’t want anything else in life. But you are forcing me to look at wealth and at horizons I have never known…I know things I should be able to accomplish, and I don’t want to do so”(Coelho 58).

In the Alchemist, the merchant is mentioning this to Santiago right before he leaves to head back to his home town, when in reality what he really wants is to go to the pyramids of Egypt. The crystal merchant serves as an example of a person who is constantly being haunted by his decison of not following his personal legend. His whole life all he wanted to do was travel and visit the “holy city of Mecca” however the merchant felt that if he fullfilled his dream then there would be nothing else to hope and aspire to in life. So instead he decided to allow his dream to be his drive and motivation for the remainder of his life.I found this quote to be very interesting because I feel like many people have experienced the same fear as the crystal merchant. They fear and have doubts on whether they should fulfill and pursue their dreams.

I really do believe that ignoring a blessing or a talent can be a curse. Every individual is born with a different talent and by exercising that talent you are fulfilling your life’s purpose as well as giving back to the world in your own way. However, sometimes along the path to fulfilling your personal legend one looses sight of that dream and becomes distracted by the complications of life. My dad, as well as many others serve as an example of this. Growing up all my dad thought about was becoming a pilot. That was what drove him and gave him hope to live and fight another day. But something happened within him that allowed him to change his mind and not pursue his dream of flying. I am sure he too shares the same feelings as the crystal merchant, haunted and always wondering what if. This is why I believe one should always acknowledge and use the talents we were blessed with to achieve our personal legend and be happy.