The Station

[Trish77]

This will mean nothing to you ... or it will mean something.  In the event that it gives you something positive, I wanted to post this.

The Station

by Robert J. Hastings

    Tucked away in our subconscious minds is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long, long trip that almost spans the continent. We're traveling by passenger train, and out the windows we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring from a power plant, of row upon row of corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hills, of biting winter and blazing summer and cavorting spring and docile fall.

    But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day at a certain hour we will pull into the station. There will be bands playing, and flags waving. And once we get there so many wonderful dreams will come true. So many wishes will be fulfilled and so many pieces of our lives finally will be neatly fitted together like a completed jigsaw puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles, damning the minutes for loitering ... waiting, waiting, waiting, for the station.

    However, sooner or later we must realize there is no one station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.

    "When we reach the station, that will be it !" we cry. Translated it means, "When I'm 18, that will be it ! When I buy a new 450 SL Mercedes Benz, that will be it ! When I put the last kid through college, that will be it ! When I have paid off the mortgage, that will be it ! When I win a promotion, that will be it ! When I reach the age of retirement, that will be it ! I shall live happily ever after !"

    Unfortunately, once we get it, then it disappears. The station somehow hides itself at the end of an endless track.

    "Relish the moment" is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24: "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." It isn't the burdens of today that drive men mad. Rather, it is regret over yesterday or fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who would rob us of today.

    So, stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot oftener, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more and cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.

All Rights Reserved
Robert J. Hastings Estate

[mremeet]

Great commentary from mr hastings, thanks for posting it. I often have to remind myself that what he said is true, always looking to some far off objective or goal as "that'll be the day"...when "the day" is right here and right now - carpe effing diem, better believe it. Of course during my own tx following the advice provided by "living every moment" was not something I could do. But I lived every minute of the fight during that time, which I suppose in its own way is living every minute. And living those minutes with a dedication and passion so that when the fight is over the rest of life can be savored all the more. The sweet is never as sweet without the sour.

Thanks for posting, very nice. And it's not gay, either. ;-)

[DragonTamer]

SO TRUE!!!!    Beautiful!!!   Thank you for sharing.    We see all these cliche's "Live in the moment"  "one day at a time"  and  they often become just that, cliche's we find hard to live by. Because tomorrow always has something for us to think about...to do.
Especially in our situations here.  It is a struggle to live each moment to the fullest without the worry of the next.  
Ok Trish thanks you just gave me the excuse and inspiration to go eat some pistachio ice cream BEFORE dinner!!!!   Watch out I may go sky diving next!!!  :) :)

[ladybug52]

I loved it. And I loved your comment about Jim's blow-up doll becoming first lady!
Thanks,
Bug

[Mikkimoe]

Good message - It is similar to what I use to teach (Fanklin Covey's "What Matters Most" on goal setting. I also do the Seven Habits of highly effective people. So many wonderful AhHa's in self discovery. When I'm better (pretty much Zombie land now) I'll pull out some of my favorites.

Thanks,

Mikkimoe

[Deb_c430]

liked it trish, thanks for sharing it .  Going to pass it on,    

Deb