Train of Thought

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Replying to emails from friends the last few weeks I’ve been noticing that many people I know are facing this new year in a state of restlessness. They’re all looking for which is the right train to board, the one that will take them towards the brightest happiest future. One way or another, they are all searching for way signs - those glowing arrows pointing at the train schedule saying…

The only problem with constantly looking for signs is that if you’re tired and worn out by stress you often can’t see clearly enough to recognise a real sign, even if it’s ten foot tall and covered in flashing lights! Then there’s the problems of doubt, those people who sit there undecided thinking, “Is that really a sign? Is this truly the best train? Should I wait for the next train rather?” …so they sit and wait for the perfect timing.

They wait.... and wait... then years/days/weeks later they realise that they were so busy waiting for the sign saying...

THIS IS THE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT RIGHT TRAIN

...that they never get to leave the station! I have, in the past, suffered from that problem. Sometimes I’ve so feared making the wrong decision that I’ve sat frozen in my seat while one train after another arrives… and departs… without me.

I have come to realise that sometimes you need to stop waiting for the perfect moment, perfect timing, perfect train. My husband (an Aries who leaps off the mountain in complete trust) helped me realise a few things. His advice is - just do it, just get on the train. If it's the wrong train, you get off at the next station and catch another one, because even if it does turn out to be the wrong train you never lose. Every journey has lessons you can take and grow from, every train takes you to a new destination full of new adventures and possibilities. Every train stops at a station where there will be other trains. Or, to use his own words…

“There are no wrong decisions, only different lessons.”

That’s why I now have a book instead of a 15 year old manuscript still sitting in a box. Is the book perfect? No. Is it going to be a success or a flop? I don’t know, but one thing I am sure of is that I’d have never found out if I hadn’t run after that publishing-offer train.

My advice to anyone sitting on the station worrying which train is right for them would be to catch it and see where it takes you. Maybe you'll stay... maybe you'll move on... maybe you'll catch another completely unexpected train. Don't worry about it too much or you'll lose the wonder of today worrying about a train trip whose ticket hasn't even been booked yet.

You will grow and learn and experience life. You’ll meet lousy people, great people, you’ll get to experience a whole range of emotions and definitely make friends amongst the other travellers taking the same route. Think about it – What will you have experienced if you stay on the platform and never step onto a train? How much richer is your life for the journeys and trains you have taken so far, how much richer are you within yourself? Nothing is a waste unless we chose to make it so.


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