Dear Avalon family,
My mama always said, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” Do you remember that famous quote and scene from the movie, Forrest Gump? Forrest is waiting for a bus when a stranger sits down next to him. Forrest is holding a box of chocolates on his lap and utters that profound statement.
I have been thinking a lot about life, lately. My friend, Tom passed away in September. After receiving a cancer diagnosis in 2014, he chose to live his life to the fullest during his remaining years. He died with no regrets. Peggy, his wife, is a precious friend of mine. She asked that I create a celebration of life for her husband on May 14. I said, “Yes”.
Life is full of synchronicity
Needless to say, I’ve been contemplating how precious life is. Last week, Carl, an extraordinary man of 96 years, and client who refers to himself as an “overly mature man”, shared The Train Ride of Life passage with me. He does not know who the author is but Carl hopes that you, too, will share it with someone you know:
The Train Ride of Life
Life is like a journey on a train with its stations, with changes of routes and with accidents.
At birth, we boarded the train and met our parents, and we believe they will always travel on our side. However, at some station, our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey, alone.
As time goes by, other people will board the train, and they will be significant (our siblings, friends, children and even the love of our life). Many will step down and leave a permanent vacuum. Others will go so unnoticed that we don’t realize they vacated their seats!
This train will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasies, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells.
Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers, requiring that we give the best of ourselves.
The mystery to everyone is: We do not know at which station we, ourselves, will step down. So, we must live in the best way – Love, forgive and offer the best of who we are. It’s important that we do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty, we want to leave beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life without us.
I wish you a joyful journey on the train of life. Reap success, give lots of love and be happy. More importantly, be thankful for the journey!
Lastly, I thank you for being one of the passengers on my train!
~ Author unknown
I love this metaphor about living life as if we are on a train ride. We may be on the train but it’s our attitude that determines how much we enjoy the ride.
Here are some of my favorite quotes about life, and having a healthy attitude
- Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it. ~ Charles Swindell
- I have found that if you love life, life will love you back. ~ Arthur Rubinstein
- Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. ~ George Bernard Shaw
- It’s not what we have in life but who we have in our life that matters. ~ Margaret Laurence
No matter where you are on the train ride of life, may it find you connected to what matters most. And remember, it is your precious sense of hearing that keeps you connected to people.
Would you please make sure that you are hearing and understanding the best you can for your train ride of life? If you have any concerns about your hearing or hearing aids, make an appointment with Avalon, today. As Carol Burnett would say, “Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.”
And now, let’s end with another Forrest Gump quote, “And, that’s all I have to say about that!”
Yours for CONNECTED Hearing & Living,
Betty Vosters-Kemp, BC-HIS
Owner, Avalon Hearing Aid Centers, Inc.
Board Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist
P.S. On Sunday May 9th, may you celebrate all the mothers on your train! And those who have stepped off the train. There are so many people on my train that mother in wonderful, loving ways…I honor you all!