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Monday, September 15th, 2008
The Station
I mentioned in another blog that I shared a piece with Denny years ago called The Station. I thought maybe some folks might like to read it. I've kept it nearly 25 years and it still has meaning to me. It's a great one for people in transition between jobs, homes, etc.
Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long trip that spans the continent. We are traveling by train. Out the windows we drink in the passing scene of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing, of smoke pouring from a power plant, of rows of corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of mountains, skylines and village halls.
But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day, at a certain hour, we will pull into the station. Once we get there, so many dreams will come true.
How restlessly we pace the aisles, damning the minutes for loitering—waiting for the station.
“When we reach the station, that will be it!!”, we cry. “When I’m 18.” “When I buy a new 450 SL Mercedes Benz!!” “When I reach the age of retirement, I shall live happily ever after!!” “When I put the last kid through college.” “When I get a promotion.”
Sooner or later, we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.
It isn’t the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.
So, stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.
– Robert J. Hastings
The Station
I mentioned in another blog that I shared a piece with Denny years ago called The Station. I thought maybe some folks might like to read it. I've kept it nearly 25 years and it still has meaning to me. It's a great one for people in transition between jobs, homes, etc.
Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long trip that spans the continent. We are traveling by train. Out the windows we drink in the passing scene of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing, of smoke pouring from a power plant, of rows of corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of mountains, skylines and village halls.
But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day, at a certain hour, we will pull into the station. Once we get there, so many dreams will come true.
How restlessly we pace the aisles, damning the minutes for loitering—waiting for the station.
“When we reach the station, that will be it!!”, we cry. “When I’m 18.” “When I buy a new 450 SL Mercedes Benz!!” “When I reach the age of retirement, I shall live happily ever after!!” “When I put the last kid through college.” “When I get a promotion.”
Sooner or later, we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.
It isn’t the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.
So, stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.
– Robert J. Hastings
You have a good one too, Niece! :)
He even wrote a story about my father-in-law and his slingshots. All of his stories are home spun and teach a lesson. He has published some books.