2013高中英语阅读素材：12 Powerful Life Lessons.docVIP

12 Powerful Life Lessons As my wife and I were planning our last vacation, one of the first things we did was get out a map and plan our route. Whether it was online maps or old fashioned paper maps - they all helped guide us to our destination. As I was looking at the maps spread across our dining room table, I thought, “wouldn’t it be great if there was a map of life” that could guide you along your life’s journey?A personal motivation map giving you those life lessons that one typically learns way too late in life. Does such a “map of life” exist? It was then that I stumbled upon a tattered copy of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho in the bottom of my closet.Paulo Coelho in his wildly popular book (65 million copies sold in 67 languages) tells the story of a shepherd boy and his quest to live his dream. Along the way, the boy meets an alchemist who has the power to inspire personal transformation. This Alchemist gives the boy a number of life’s lessons - lessons that are as fresh and applicable today as they were hundreds of years ago. The lessons by themselves are interesting, but it’s only when they are applied, that the power of personal transformation can be unleashed.So what can Paulo teach us about life and pursing dreams in the face of obstaclesthat caused 65 million people to buy his book?1. It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary.I believe this to be true and have experienced this with my own family. When I think of the times where we laughed the most or had the most fun - it was when we were doing the simplest things. Swimming in a pool, combing a beach for shells, playing a board game, or sharing a delicious meal - all simple things making up the best times we’ve had as a family.Question: What were some of the happiest memories from your past? What were you doing?2. Support your children in pursuit of their dreams.In the beginning of the story the shepherd boy (named Santiago) tells his father he wants to travel and s