Life as a train journey

From my trip in Amsterdam I learnt two life lessons. 

First. The most important is the balance, between making plans and rethink them along the way.

If you lost a train, another will come. You can change the trains, stop at different stations, change the line, take another. Until you reach your destination. than you can relax.

Maybe this is our life, a continuous train journey. Some take the same train, they are afraid to change it, to stop and admire a city in their way. Other, the successful ones, make a plan, take one train, when the direction change, they get off, step on the platform, look around, if they like what they see they try the place, when they learned everything they continue their journey. At the destination, they are happy, content with their journey, they feel accomplished and content. they can be at peace.

The second life teach is: be smart in communication. Avoid arguments, they never lead to something good. First, you cannot change the other’s opinion using rational arguments. Second, being a smart ass leads to resistance and avoidance from the other party. My resolution is to listen to others, and communicate only the important aspects. I would love to be patient and to know others better, listen more to them, talk less and only the essential. Really listen and really hear them. Don’t fill in the gaps, but listen with the “innocence of a child”, and by that I mean, no judgment, no expectations, no hurry but with openness.

Make others see your point of view by questions, not statements, don’t give you opinion but only at the end of the conversations, and only if it is requested. Don’t think that I try to transform you in a brainless person, with no opinions and no power. No, not at all.

If anybody want from others anything in life, the hard way is not the way, never; But collaboration, trust and closeness (understanding). And these qualities can be acquired by the techniques mentioned above.