Trains had always fascinated Tom. Walking by railroad tracks was always exciting for him. Whenever he was fortunate to see a train it always seemed to him that it was going to wonderful places. Trains had so much power, so much promise and with trains it seemed to him the best was yet ahead. Looking at the train tracks he could imagine good things in the future were just beyond the horizon, just down the tracks.  He found himself jogging at first and then running to catch up to the future sooner.

Tom’s future couldn’t be brighter. He was an electrical engineer. He had three patents pending. He was engaged to be married. He would marry the love of his life in five months. He was just given a promotion with another promotion promised in eleven months if he could achieve success in his new position. He was about to buy a new home in spite of tough economy. His future was much like the train and the tracks the trains rode on.  It was taking him to wonderful places with so much promise. The best was yet ahead for Tom. Good things were just beyond the horizon and getting better.

As he ran he looked back over his shoulder for a quick glance. It was a mistake. He saw the mistakes of his past and heard their accusations. He took another glance and he first felt then saw and finally heard his fears of the past joining his mistakes. The ground felt like it was shaking and the noise was getting so loud. He ran harder. He almost tripped as he ran and so he looked back again. He saw the finger pointing and smelled the stink of the nay-sayers of all those who had told him he couldn’t have a good future. All of this added to the noise, smells and smoke of self-defeat that began to catch up to him. Much like a freight train traveling too close it had the potential to derail his future. One more time he looked back and was almost blinded by self-defeat.

As Tom was about to give up he saw a glimpse of light that reminded him of the promise of a bright future. He decided to focus on his future just down the tracks. As he did so his energy was restored and so was his resolve. He picked up the pace and the smoke of self- defeat began to clear. As the smoke of self-defeat cleared Tom ran faster and the noise of his past mistakes faded. He began to leave the sounds, the feelings and the glimpse of his past fears behind. As he ran it was easier for his focus to turn away from the nay-sayers and see the smiles of all who are glad for his wonderful future. Tom ran along the train tracks and for a short while he was able to run with a train knowing he would join that train soon to the best days of his life.

We should never forget our past because it helps keep us real. Learning from our mistakes, maturing, growing and even our tears are all part of our past. But it is also part of who we are now. It is part of the foundation of our lives. It is what makes a wonderful future possible. What we cannot do is to focus on our past. Focusing on our past is not who we are anymore or maybe never were. Focusing on our mistakes, what others have said negatively about us, our past doubts, on past defeats, and past fears will only lead to us missing out in a wonderful future that is exclusively ours. As we go through life may we always focus on our future even as we remember our past.