Seeking the right alternatives

A luckless passenger rushed, panting, into the station just as his train was steaming out. His watch –slow by ten minutes – had let him down. “Don’t worry, Sir,” sympathized a passing porter, there will be another train along in about a couple of hours. Why go away? Just wait here for it on this same platform.” The passenger, keen to reach his destination, decided to accept his advice, even if it meant waiting two, long tedious hours. Just getting to where he wanted to go was too important to him to think of expending time and energy coming and going from the station all over again, and perhaps missing his train once again, so he stayed right where he was and catch his train he did. 

When we miss a train, there is always the comforting knowledge that there is that next train coming along. That is the lesson that the platform teaches. It is then up to us to make the correct decision about our next move. 

But it is surprising how many people fail to grasp this reality. They are inexplicably plunged into gloom and depression when they fail initially to grasp an opportunity and frequently adopt such a pessimistic attitude that they fritter away their precious energies in blaming others for their failures. 

How much better it would be if they were to make a proper assessment of the situation, taking all possibilities into account, and then seek new ways and means of achieving their goals, even if it means a lengthy wait: this is a matter simply of patience and determination. 

There is always that “next train” for them to catch. It is just a question of being properly alert to this, and being ready to avail of that God-given second opportunity.

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