I Knew You Could

A Story about a Train for All the Stops in Your Life.

I knew you could! And you knew it, too- That you would come out on top after all you have been through. And from here you will go farther and see brand-new sights. You will face brand-new hills that rise to new heights. I wish I could show you the stops that you will visit, But that is not my choice to make for you is it? Instead, I can tell you some lessons and tales that I have learned and relearned in my time on the rails.

First of all, you must find your own track, so you can start right away and not be held back. But which track is yours? Well, that all depends on which way it is going and where it might end. Different tracks wind around, over, under, and through, so pick out the one that works best for you. Though the track you start out on will feel like “the one,” You might take a few more before you are done. And now, with your eyes on your new destination, start up your wheels and roll out of the station.

On your new trip, you will plenty of stops in deep river valleys and on high mountain tops. Some will surprise you and some will be planned, and you will roll through each one saying, “I think I can!”

You will go through tunnels, surrounded by dark, and you will wish for a light or even a spark. You might get scared or a little bit sad, wondering if maybe your track has gone bad. So here’s some advice to help ease your doubt: The track you took in must also go out. So steady yourself and just keep on going-before you know it, some light will be showing. And then you’ll be out, heading to a new place. You’ll be ready for the next tunnel you face.

Sometimes you will look up and see planes in the sky, and you will think to yourself, “I wish I could fly.” The cars on the roads will seem quick and free- You will feel stuck on your track and think, “I wish that was me.” But the plane might wish he could get out of the air, saying, “I wish I could travel like that train down there.” The cars will watch as you speed right along, and they will say to each other, “Look how fast and how strong!” Don’t worry about not being a car or a plane, Just enjoy the trip you will take as a train.

Don’t be afraid to toot your own horn, if you need to be heard or there are people to warn. Or if being yourself just makes you so proud, that you want to share it and sing it out loud. You will follow your track through twists and through bends, and stop at new stops and pick up new friends. They will all come aboard with smiles and greetings. You will have such great times with the people you are meeting.

On the days when you are sad and feel you cannot go, speak up and ask a friend for a tow. That is what friends do, so don’t be afraid. You would do the same if your friend needed aid.

You might stop at some stops that you never have toured. And look for new friends, but they will not come aboard. So you will have to head out with a creak and a groan, setting out once again on your track, all alone. Try to remember that the world is so wide, full of all kinds of people with their own trains to ride. Just stay true to yourself as you travel your track, with no second-guessing and no looking back.

Once you are on the right track, you will probably say, “This one is mine-I am here to stay.” Try to enjoy the track that you choose. Stop now and then to take in the views.

If you rush forward, as a general rule, before you arrive, you could run out of fuel. Don’t overwork, but save up some strength. That way, every day, you can travel great lengths. You will need all that strength on the days when you are stuck, or tired, or sad, or just out of luck. When your belief in yourself does not feel quite so pure, And your ”I think I can” does not sound quite so sure,

That is when to push and to strive and to strain, to show the world you are not a giving-up train. And you are wise if you know that doing your best means that sometimes you should just slow down and rest. Speeding through your whole trip will bring only sorrow, so slow down today and be happy tomorrow.

There is more about life that you will learn as you go, because figuring things out on your own helps you grow. Just trust in yourself and you will climb every hill. Say “I think I can!” and you know what?

You will!