From the moment we are born and board that remarkable train journey called “Life,” we will experience many golden adventures in one lifetime.
We meet the people who brought us into the world—our parents, who will have the most profound impact on the initial part of our journey. Parents provide guidance and teachings for us to act by example; regardless of whether our lives last for a few years or a hundred, we will visit many stations along the way.
Sometimes, we get off the train at a random station to enjoy the ambience of the moment; other times, we let the station pass by, not wanting to stop or re-visit.
From the first station of early childhood, we start to build lifetime memories of how our individual lives are mapping out. As the journey winds and bends onward into the future, we make new friends, experience unique adventures, and gain more additional knowledge every second of the day on a continual learning curve of life.
As we gaze outside the window at the sun glistening in our eyes, we have endless opportunities; our pathways depend on which station we choose to get off.
Maybe fate has a hand in making those decisions, or is it by taking a chance on our intuition and gut reaction to how we will decide which way to go?
As the sun goes down and the dark skies reveal the endless array of stars and moonlight, we can close our eyes and make wishes and dreams come true.
As the railroads seek different tracks, so do our choices—who we will have a relationship with, what education we decide upon, and what job we end up doing. Our career paths and relationship success depend upon many factors, from compatibility to luck and the chances we take.
Whoever boards the train and we decide to connect with them could be the right or wrong person who could join us on the ultimate journey of life.
Then, there are the crossroads when our choices, decisions, and instincts help decide our destiny—fate or fortune—and what lies ahead is always a mystery.
When we are young, the train goes slowly, and we look forward anxiously to events such as Christmas, birthdays, and holidays. But as we age, the train speeds up, and we long for the days, months, and years to slow down as they did when we were young.
As an eight-year-old boy, I recall asking my grandmother, approaching her 80th birthday, what she would like as a gift, and she replied, “A Vase of Time.” I thought she meant the herb Thyme and told my mother my grandmother would like herbs for her garden.
The naivety of a young child not understanding a philosophical comment made by their grandmother has always impacted my perception and understanding of people.
The glorious part of our world is that life is a mystery, never knowing what is ahead of us and what new adventure awaits us. We are all passengers on the train of life and should conduct ourselves with love, kindness, and passion, respectfully and with dignity, always looking to pay forward compassion and empathy towards our fellow humans.
We should all remember that humility and reverence should go hand in hand. Life can throw so many obstacles in our way and challenge our spirits; one thing we all have in common is that we are all heading in the same direction, and we should embrace the gift of life with laughter and amazement.
Each train journey is full of mixed emotions: happiness, sadness, grief, expectations, and memories. We gather them along the way as we travel forward, capturing every moment in our minds’ eye. We greet many friends and family who board the train, and many vacate their seats before us.
As the twilight years approach and the end of the line grows closer, so does life expectancy and our dreams, achievements, and adventures.
Another anecdotal remark my grandmother would say was, “Live every day as if it’s your first, not your last, and then you have another day to look forward to.”
When we step down from the train at the end of our journey, the empty seats will overflow with treasured memories for our loved ones to keep in their hearts as they remember the life and legacy created for them to continue the next generation.
Above all, let us hope we find our soulmate to love in our time on Earth. To find love and be loved in return is the greatest gift of all!
If we are lucky enough to discover true love, it should be cherished, nurtured, valued, and held in the greatest esteem, for love makes the world a better place.
There are no guarantees in life that it will be plain sailing and we all weather the storms and the ups and downs that present us. Life is what we make it, and sometimes life makes us.
A quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln states; “In the end, what truly matters is not the number of years we live, but the way we live those years.”
What a beautiful perspective on life, so enjoyed reading this michael and so true. Just beautifully written.
Beautifully written Michael. It reminds me of Walt Whitman’s words when he is questioning himself on the purpose of life, and he answers himself – “That you are here—that life exists and identity,
That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.”
I am also reminded of Meister Eckhardt who said “If the only prayer you ever say is Thank You, it will be enough”.
True