In life, people come and go, adhering to the adage that the right ones will always stay. It makes me ponder: what percentage of all the people we encounter actually remain in our lives? It’s said that we become the average of the five individuals we spend the most time with. This notion deeply resonates with me and mirrors my life’s story.
Consider a train journey, a metaphor that has imprinted itself on my memory. You embark on this journey without a specific destination in mind, choosing trains as your mode of travel. At the station, you board a train that appeals to you and settle into a compartment. Here, you meet various passengers – some you connect with, others less so, and a few might even stir feelings of love or dislike.
As the journey progresses, the train stops at different stations. New passengers enter, and discussions evolve. You might travel with some for a while, sharing conversations, changing trains together or parting ways. Each leg of the journey introduces new faces, and some of those you’ve met may never cross your path again. These passengers bring laughter, tears, and new knowledge.
Life mirrors this journey. People we meet play different roles – brief encounters, long-lasting connections, profound influences, and everything in between. Each person’s journey is unique, seen through their own lens. No single passenger can fulfill all your needs, but each interaction changes you, and you change them.
Enjoy this journey, for life itself is a journey. We reach our final destination alone, but along the way, if someone enriches your life, cherish their company. Be kind to all passengers, as your interactions impact their lives just as theirs impact yours. Some will remember you fondly, others not so much, and the same goes for you. Your influence over who shares your compartment may be limited, but you can choose your journey’s path and the companions for different legs of the trip – as friends, colleagues, lovers, or strangers. Your choices and the trains you select shape the enjoyment of your journey.
Reflecting on my journey, I sometimes wish I had disembarked at different stations or chosen other trains to meet different people. Occasionally, I revisit past stations or trains, finding either new faces or familiar ones altered by their own journeys. While some stations or trains may seem eerie, my aim is always to leave a positive impact on my co-passengers, hoping to be remembered fondly.
I believe I’ve largely succeeded in this endeavor. A recent encounter with a past co-traveler, who recalled my words “you are the messenger,” filled me with pride. These words, still echoing positively in his memory, affirm my impact and the legacy I leave in others’ lives. Yet, there’s a part of me that wishes some had stayed longer on my life’s train journey.