“The closer one gets to the realization of one's personal legend, the more this personal legend becomes one's true reason for being” ~ Paolo Coelho, the alchemist (75) A human can't face a riddle and not try to figure it out. There is no paradox or enigma that people are completely unaware of. The race as a whole has evolved into a highly developed problem-solving species, which forms the basis of what binds the entire species together. This thirst for understanding is what drives people to ask the bigger “why?” of everything: “why am I here? “Humans, throughout the ages and in all cultures of the world, constantly struggle with the idea that they have no purpose. People search all their lives for something that justifies the space they occupy in the universe. Although the search for validation is done in different ways, it is still what binds every person who has ever existed, exists, or will exist together. Why do humans seek this validation? The answer is an innate lack of self-confidence. Our insecurities force us to conjure up a reason for who we are. So often we try to gain societal acceptance, or at least societal recognition, as a way to understand our own worth. In Kite Runner, by Afghan author Khaled Hosseini, the main character, Amir, spends much of his childhood seeking acceptance, particularly from his father. Amir is a Pashtun and his servant/childhood friend Hassan is a Hazara and, therefore, a second-class citizen. Amir believed that his father favored Hassan, because he was fearless and would stand up for himself when Amir was too pusillanimous to do so. In one case, Pashtun bullies raped Hassan after a kite-fighting competition, and Amir did nothing to stop them. His need to...... in the middle of paper is so great... When one discovers what one should do with one's life, it becomes one's reason for living. The main plot of the book consists of a shepherd, Santiago, searching for treasure. He ends up finding the treasure; it was right under his nose the whole time. During his quest, he discovered that seeking his fortune was more imperative to his life than acquiring the treasure. Nevertheless, he obtained personal vindication. His personal legend was finding the treasure, and he found purpose in it. No matter what method someone uses to find validation for their existence, all techniques serve to achieve the same goal. Humans across time and cultures are obviously varied. It would be stupid to dispute this point. We are nevertheless united in our quest for explanations. We are united in our determination to have purpose.