Life is like a journey on a train… with its stations… with changes of routes… and with accidents!
At birth we board the train and meet our parents and we believe they will always travel by 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 that they vacated their seats!
This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes and farewells.
Success consists of having a good relationship with all the 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 is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty — we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.
I wish you all a joyful journey on the train of life. Reap success and give lots of love. More importantly, thank God for the journey!
Lastly, I thank you for being one of the passengers on my train!
(Editor’s note: Joly Benitez was Minister of Human Settlements during the Marcos regime. His aunt Helena Benitez was the founder of Philippine Women’s University. Mr. Benitez is an alumnus of Ateneo de Manila University. He passed away last September.)