"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." "The ...

INSPIRATION
The Station
By Robert J. Hastings
Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision.
We are traveling by train – out the windows, we drink
in the passing scenes of children waving at a crossing, cattle
grazing on a distant hillside, row upon row of corn and
wheat, flatlands and valleys, mountains and rolling hillsides
and city skylines.
But uppermost in our minds is the final destination.
On a certain day, we will pull into the station. Bands
will be playing and flags waving. Once we get there, our
dreams will come true and the pieces of our lives will fit
together like a completed jigsaw puzzle. Restlessly we
pace the aisles, damning the minutes – waiting, waiting,
waiting for the station.
“When we reach the station, that will be it!” we cry.
“When I’m 18.” “When I buy a new 450sl Mercedes Benz!”
“When I put the last kid through college!” “When I have
paid off the mortgage!” “When I get a promotion!” “When
I reach retirement, I shall live happily ever after!”
Sooner or later, we realize there is no station, no one place
to arrive. 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. It isn’t the burdens
of today that drive 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 we
go along. The station will come soon enough.
All Rights Reserved, Robert J. Hastings Estate, www.robertjhastings.com
continued from page 27
• Put down your fork while the evening is still young.
Late-night eating gives you less of a sense of fullness
than eating earlier in the day and can result in a larger
daily food intake.
Bring a healthy dish to share that you also enjoy eating.
That way, you’ll have an alternative if the table is loaded with
high-fat foods.
Keep your perspective
Even if you slip up once or twice, it’s not the end-of-theworld,
or the end of your ability to make wise eating choices
again. Balance low- and higher-calorie foods, set your own
traditions with healthier recipes, take short walking breaks
for yourself, and you’ll have fun this season.
28 PARTNERS Summer 2011
“Holidays are a good thing ... They’re not just about eating”
Swann says. “They’re about getting together with the people
we love.”
For more information on the health topics mentioned in
this article visit the HealthyWomen.org areas below.
Weight Management: http://www.healthywomen.org/
condition/weight-management. Healthy Living: http://
www.healthywomen.org/ages-and-stages/healthy-living/
diet-and-nutrition. Diet and Fitness Center: http://www.
healthywomen.org/healthcenter/diet-and-fitness. n
“Your future depends on many
things, but mostly on you.”
– Frank Tyger