3 Life Lessons From Railway Tracks

What’s going on guys, it’s Michael Siervo. I’m just here at our office and I decided to get some fresh air. I walked around the building andI noticed these really cool railway tracks. These tracks inspired me and made me think of 3 life lessons. 

I once heard the great Tony Robbins say “The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.” You see many people travel along trains that ride along these railway tracks. They go from A to B taking people from a starting point to their destination. There are trains all around the world that take people from city to city, country to country. In fact, some trains travel more than 320kms/hr or almost 200 miles per hour like the bullet trains in Japan. Whether you’re rocketing across a railroad track or putting along a choo choo train, it doesn’t matter. The point is that you are on that train going somewhere. Well that’s like life. Many people see others going somewhere and wonder “why can’t I do that?”. Well one reason is that those people decided to get on the train while you are on the ground watching them zip by. Just decide to get on that train of life and pick a destination where you want to be. We call those goals. So Start that journey. Write that book. Talk to that girl. Get in shape. Whatever it is, decide to be on that train going forward in life rather than watching it pass you by.

The second lesson is a quote from Will Rogers, an old American Actor. He said “Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” That’s true in life. You have to keep moving. You can start that journey. Buy all the great workout gear, get that gym membership but if you do move you won’t accomplish anything. I know it’s hard but how many of you started the year off with good intentions and dropped those resolutions. If you stand still you’ll get run over. So keep moving forward no matter what. 

The last lesson is one that I think about regularly. I look at the tracks. Did you know that the standard US railroad gauge which is essentially the distance or spacing between the tracks is 4 feet 8.5 inches. This has to be exactly this amount all along the way for miles and miles. Even as small as an inch off can throw a train off the tracks and potentially harm the valuable cargo on board. What does this have to do with life? Well you can decide to move forward, you can have the speed and momentum to move forward but small fairly insignificant decisions or mistakes done over time can throw you completely off course. That 4 feet 8.5inches represents your decisions. Your life is made up of many 4ft 8.5 inch decisions over the span of miles or in life terms, years. Compound poor decisions and you can seriously lose course or worse harm yourself and others on the journey with you. 

It’s funny that something as simple as steel laid out perfectly over many miles can remind us that life is a journey. Make the right decisions, create positive habits,have an end in mind and last but not least get a window seat to enjoy the view along the way. 

As always, I’m Michael Siervo. Sending you love and good vibes. Travel safely and enjoy Your journey!

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