Awesome book!
And to think that i actually bought it without knowing it was a self-help novel.
Blessing in disguise, i must say.
Because it took me less than 1 full day to read but i believe the values behind it, will last me a lifetime.
Inspiring.
It's called "The traveller's gift".
I thought it was ingenius of the author (Andy Andrews) to weave self-help values into a story. The values were explained and reinforced by examples. Yet, it certainly was not preachy and definitely very gripping. I simply could not resist flipping through the next few pages each time, to find out which famous person the main lead (David Ponder) was going to meet next at the start of each destination.
I come to realise i learnt the most life lessons from drama serials, movies, books, stories about successful people and from the lives of those around me. When friends come to me, i put myself in their shoes. What would the best thing to do be.. Maybe it's good because when one's not in the situation, he/she will able to see things more objectively.. I learn as i advise, or like i would rather call it: give my two-cents worth. Of course, it's probably not really full-proof advice but rather to put the situation in perspective for the person. To show options.. And i slowly discover that when i do this, it's almost as though i had been in that situation then. Lessons are taken away and life values are formed upon reflection on them. Still, i do feel sometimes that these are still in fragments. Sometimes, shaky and uncertain of the real meaning behind those lessons. Once in a while though, i can also be deeply amazed by the extent i managed to take away. These values, which i stand by, are based on lessons from others' lives. The very values that i might tell someone else who maybe in a similar situation sometime down the road.
And then, there are also the times when i secrety wish for some sort of guidance and advice in life.. Once in a while, you just hope that there's this someone to push you gently from the back and guide you. Very rarely, you find that someone whom you can exchange comfortably with about life and values without already being in a difficult situation. Not that i haven't met anyone like that. I have, just that they dont usually stay in my life for long to advise much.
Well, at least, these values from the book will be here to stay for a long part of my life..
Among these 7 values, there are the few which i had previously gotten to know of but never got to consolidate. And there are the others which are new to me but i can still agree and relate to. Netherless, i believe all 7 have found important standing in my set of life values now.
They are within everyone's grasp but yet, not everyone reaches out to hold onto them. These 7 decisions. So simple to understand yet so challenging, at the same time. The people who embraces these values will achieve great in life. They will reach their goals and show, by example, to others how to reach theirs too.
I certainly hope i will become one who can fully embrace these values into life and practise them. (: