In our 1)subconscious minds, there is always a perfect 2)vision in which we see ourselves on a long, long journey that almost spans the entire continent. We’re traveling by passenger train and, from the windows, we 3)drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at crossings, of cattle 4)grazing in distant hillsides, of smoke pouring from power 5)plants, of row upon row of cotton and corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of mountains and 6)rolling hills, of city 7)skylines and village halls.

But our minds are always focused on the final 8)destination — for at a certain hour and on a given day, our train will finally pull into the station with bells ringing, flags waving, and bands playing. And once we get there, so many wonderful dreams will come true. So many wishes will be fulfilled and so many pieces of our lives finally will be neatly fitted together like a completed 9)jigsaw puzzle. So restlessly, we pace the 10)aisles and count the miles, 11)peering ahead, waiting, waiting, waiting for the station. 

“Yes, when we reach the station, that will be it!” We promise ourselves. “When I’m 18, that will be it! When I buy a new Mercedes Benz, that will be it! When I put the last kid through college, that will be it! When I have paid off the 12)mortgage, that will be it! When I win a 13)promotion, that will be it! When I reach the age of 14)retirement, that will be it! “

From that day on we will all live happily ever after.

Unfortunately, once we get it, then it disappears. The station somehow hides itself at the end of an endless track.

Sooner or later, we must realize there is no station in this life, no one earthly place to arrive at once and for all. The journey is the joy. The station is an 15)illusion — it always 16)outdistances us. Yesterday’s a memory, tomorrow’s a dream. Yesterday’s a fading sunset, tomorrow’s a 17)faint sunrise. Only today is there light enough to love and live.

So, gently close the door on yesterday and then throw the key away. It isn’t the 18)burdens of today that drive men mad, but rather the regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who would 19)rob us of today.

So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, swim more rivers, climb more mountains, kiss more babies, count more stars. Laugh more and cry less. Go barefoot oftener. Eat more ice cream. Ride more 20)merry-go-rounds. Watch more sunsets. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.
　　在我们的潜意识里，总有一幅完美的画面。在那里我们可以看到自己正在进行着一次无比漫长的旅程，漫长得几乎横跨了整片大地。我们乘着列车旅行着，从窗口往外看，我们陶醉在一路上从我们眼前飞驰而过的各种景物中——邻近的公路上有汽车驶过，十字路口上一群孩子在招手，远方的山坡上有牛群在吃草，发电站的烟囱涌出滚滚的烟气，还有一排又一排的棉花、苞谷和小麦，一片又一片的平原和山谷，高山和起伏不平的山丘，天空映衬下城市的轮廓，还有村庄的大堂。
　　但我们心中最挂念的，始终是那最终要去的目的地——因为在某一天的某个时刻，我们的列车终将在响亮的铃铛、挥舞的小旗还有乐队的乐声中进站停靠。一旦到站，那许多美妙的梦便会实现。那许多的心愿将得到满足，我们生命中的许多碎片也终于可以像一块拼好的七巧板那样天衣无缝地彼此连成一体。于是我们急切地在车厢的过道里穿梭着，不厌其烦地计算着路程，探头探脑，等待着，等待着，等待着车站的到来。
　　“是的，当我们到站的时候，就可以了！”我们对自己暗自许下承诺。“到我18岁的时候，就可以了！到我买一辆梅赛德斯奔驰轿车的时候，就可以了！到我把最后一个孩子送进大学的时候，就可以了！到我把按揭都付完的时候，就可以了！到我升职的时候，就可以了！到我退休的时候，就可以了！”
　　仿佛从那一天以后我们就会永远幸福快乐地生活着。
　　然而不幸的是，我们一旦到达，它马上又消失了。车站好像把它自己藏起来了，藏在一条没有终点的铁路的尽头。
　　迟早我们都必领悟到这样一件事情，此生中并没有什么车站，人世间没有一处地方是可以让你一朝抵达就可以永远不再前进的。旅途本身便是快乐所在。而车站只不过是一个幻象——它总是不断地把我们抛在后面。昨日无非是一种回忆，明天也只是一个梦境。昨日是一轮逐渐消逝隐没的落日，而明天还只是迷蒙的日出。只有今天，只有今天的光明足以照亮我们的爱与生命。
　　所以，轻轻关上昨日之门吧，然后把那把钥匙丢弃。让人发疯的并非今天所承受的负担，而是为昨日背负的懊悔与对明天的畏惧。懊悔与畏惧是一对孪生盗贼，他们会夺走我们所拥有的今天。
　　所以，不要再在列车过道里匆忙踱步了，也不要再去计算还有多少里路才能到达那个梦想中的车站。与此相反，你要尽可以多地在不同的河流里畅泳，多爬爬不同的山，多亲吻一些孩子，多数点儿星星。笑口常开，眼泪少流。多赤着脚丫走路，多吃点儿雪糕，多骑骑旋转木马；多欣赏欣赏日落的风景。生命只能在行进的过程中被享用。车站很快就会到来。