The Train Perspective

 


While travelling by train one day, I stood leaning against a panel, backing the direction in which the train was moving. After some time, I changed sides and then I stood facing the direction in which the train was moving. A small change made me realise the importance of perspective.

 

With my back facing the direction in which the train was going, I felt I was constantly moving away from somewhere. Everything seemed left behind and I seemed to be going away from all I could see. But when I was facing the direction in which the train was going, I had a feeling of arriving somewhere. It felt like everything was coming to me and I was coming close to whatever I saw. A really small shift in position but a major shift in perspective. The same train, running in the same direction but things seemed different, depending on my point of view.

 

I also realised, when I’m looking behind, my focus is always on what’s gone or going. As a result, I miss the beauty of what’s there now and also what’s coming. Isn’t that how life is too? We keep looking behind, missing the good times or repenting the bad decisions, and we forget to live now, in this moment. Sometimes we can’t even see what good is coming our way till it’s too late! Like in the train journey I saw a beautiful tree full of yellow flowers, but since I did not know it was coming my way, I only caught a fleeting glimpse as the train sped by.

 

Looking back isn’t always bad though. Firstly, it’s good because it gives a good measure of how far we have come. In life sometimes we get disappointed by the progress we are making. It makes good sense, in such situations, to look back and see how far we have come. Many times you will surprise yourself by the progress you have already made. Secondly, looking behind gives some good lessons in life. We can learn from the mistakes we might have made and hence not repeat them in future.

 

So, let’s pay attention to the train perspective. Are you looking the right way? Are you facing in the direction in which life is going? Or are you facing the other way and hence missing the beauty of life and maybe life itself? Remember, sometimes all you need is a little shift, a little change of perspective!

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