topic Re: THE STATION in Community Chat

THE STATION

Lindsays Grandma — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 05:39:45 GMT

I have had a copy of The Station since 1999, it is one of my favorites and it gives me pleasure to share it with all of you.

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 of 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 hillsides, of city skylines and village halls.

But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day, at a certain hour we will be pulling into the station. Bands will be playing and flags waving. Once we get there so many wonderful dreams will come true, and the pieces of our lives fit together like a complete jigsaw puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles, damning the minutes for loitering - waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.

"When we reach the station, that will be be it." we cry. "When I'm 18." When I buy a new 450SL Mercedes Benz." "When I have paid off my mortgage!" "When I get a promotion." "When I reach the age of retirement, I shall live happily ever after."

Sooner or late we must realize there is no 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.

"Relish the moment" is a good motto, this is the day we dreamed of, we will rejoice and be glad in it." "It isn't the burden of today that drives 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, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less. Life must be lived as go we along. The station will come soon enough.

Author: Robert J. Hastings

Re: THE STATION

DbinMD — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 10:17:24 GMT

@Lindsays Grandma

Thank you for this.. No truer words than this.

Re: THE STATION

JasoninBoston — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 10:24:37 GMT

@Lindsays Grandma

Thank you for posting this lovely and so timely message!

Re: THE STATION

Swedishmiss — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 11:44:53 GMT

Thank you for posting. ❤️

Re: THE STATION

reenie3 — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 15:22:17 GMT

I love this, also. I first read it when both of my children were in diapers, and my "station" was when I no longer had to change (and wash) diapers!! They are now 49 & 50!! I refer to this so often to remind my self! Thank you for posting it!

Re: THE STATION

stevieb — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 16:01:27 GMT

So true @Lindsays Grandma and a shame many of us don't realize it sooner in life...

Re: THE STATION

golding76 — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 17:56:34 GMT

Thank you for posting this, Lindsays Grandma. This is wisdom, and we should pay attention.

(Good kick-in-the-pants reminder for me.)

Re: THE STATION

CherryHugs — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 17:12:16 GMT

Thank u for sharing this. Never saw it before but its wonderful and good to think about.

Re: THE STATION

springers — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 17:26:17 GMT

Thank you! I needed this. To prove this need, First thing I thought of was how I regretted not hearing it sooner. 😂🤔