Family and Friends

I am so blessed to have so many amazing people in my life. I truly believe that people come into your life "for a reason, a season, or a lifetime." Last night my family, friends and some former students celebrated my journey over dinner. These are the people whom I consider family. Although not blood related, each of them has touched my life in such a positive way. When I think of the definition of 'family,' they are it. Family supports you, loves you unconditionally, and is there for you during rough and good times. Last night was definitely a good time and I have to continually remind myself, how blessed I really am!

Going to share a quick story that compares our life to a train ride.

Life is like a train ride. We get on. We ride. We get off. We get back on and ride some more. There are accidents and there are delays. At certain stops there are surprises. Some of these will translate into great moments of joy, while others will result in profound sorrow.

When we are born and we first board the train, we meet people whom we think will be with us for the entire journey. Those people are our parents.

Sadly, this is far from the truth. Our parents are with us for as long as we absolutely need them. They too, have journeys they must complete. We live on with their memories of love, affection, guidance and their ever presence.

There are others who board the train and who eventually become very important to us, in turn.

These people are our brothers, sisters, friends and acquaintances, whom we will learn to love and cherish.

Some people consider their journey like a jaunty tour. They will just go merrily along.

Others will encounter many upsets, and tears on their journey. Yet still, they will linger on to offer a helping hand to anyone in need.

Some people on the train will leave an everlasting impression when they get off..... some will get on and get off the train so quickly, they will scarcely leave a sign that they ever travelled along with you or ever crossed your path....

We will sometimes be upset that some passengers whom we love, will choose to sit in another compartment and leave us to travel on our own. Then again, there's nothing that says we can't seek them out anyway.

Nevertheless, once sought out and found, we may not even be able to sit next to them because that seat will already be taken. But that's okay, because everyone's journey will be filled with dreams, challenges, setbacks and goodbyes. We must strive to make the best of it.

We must constantly strive to understand our travel companions and look for the best in everyone.

Remember that at any moment during our journey, any one of our travel companions can have a weak moment and be in need of our help.

We too may vacilate or hesitate, even trip.... hopefully we can count on someone being there to be supportive and understanding...

The bigger mystery of our journey is that we don't know when our last stop will come. Neither do we know when our travel companions will make their last stop. Not even those sitting in the seat next to us.

We're all on this train ride together. Above all, we should all try to strive to make the ride as pleasant and memorable as we can, right up until we each make the final stop and leave the train for the last time.

Thank you to everyone who has enriched my spirit and boarded my train!!!
xoxoxo