As I lay awake late at night my mind is spinning. I start to think about everything that has happened in the past year as we come upon the new year. I think to myself, what was I thinking? But then I think. If events hadn't happened the way they did, everything following them would change. This cause and effect aspect can change our lives for the better, or for the worse.

As we grow up, we hopefully grow as people and discover our likes and dislikes. However, as we live, we go through several experiences that teach us how to be ourselves. By listening to others about their experiences and lessons they've learned, we also gather information about ourselves and life, helping us flourish into the people we are supposed to be. Our journey across time includes several experiences and difficulties that we face, meeting several people along the way. However, in order to flourish into the people we are supposed to be, we experience life.

One day in class, my teacher decided to show us a video about a train. This train portrayed life. As people got on the train, they were born and as they got off, they passed. At the beginning of the video, it showed a young child stepping onto the train where he was greeted by two couples, one young and one older, with open arms. Eventually, another child stepped on the train. This time a little girl. Bringing along the young boy, the two couples again welcomed the little girl with open arms, just like they welcomed the boy. The video continued as the children played on the train. The parents would chat with other parents as children passed through each car. About ten minutes into the video, the young boy's grandfather stepped off the train. They said their goodbyes and the train was on its way. A little while later, his grandmother stepped off as well.

In the video, some people entered on one car of the train and exited off another. However in some cases, they entered and exited the same car. Their location on the train depended on their position in life. Some people were seen to spend more time in certain cars in order to converse and create relationships, while others just passed by. Sometimes we saw familiar faces in the passing, or on different cars far away, but were never seen again.

Depending on how long you stay in a certain person's life depends on which car you are on at a certain time. Some people may linger on the same car, while some may pass by without conversation. I believe there is always a reason why we meet certain people. Whether we meet them to teach us a lesson and then they are on their way, or we continue our journey with them on the train for a long time. We are all on the same train, it just depends which car you are on at a certain time.

When we think of a loss, as someone steps off the train, or when someone walks out of our lives, onto a different car, we think that we are not connected anymore. We think that because they are not physically with us anymore, that our memories are just memories. Well, I don't think that's true.

My friends and I were talking one night after class and I mentioned that I missed someone that used to have a great impact on my life. My friends gave me a hug and told me that it was all okay. As we continued our conversation, one of my friends told me about the red string. Why are we talking about a red string? Giving her such a puzzled face, showing her I was unsure about what she was talking about, she continued to explain. She told me that we are all connected by a red string; a red string that connects you and every person you are destined to meet. When they come into your life, the string gets shorter, but as they leave, the string gets longer. This made me feel a little better thinking I was still connected to that person. It made me think that just because I don't have this person physically next to me, it doesn't mean that we aren't connected. I will always have memories to cherish and the red string will always be there to reassure my thoughts.

We may lose our loved ones, but you will always be connected. As people move car to car, cherish the memories you made while you were on the same car. Teach each other lessons that both of you can use for the future. The train of life does not limit you. Meeting certain people is not a mistake.

Ride your train wisely and live the life that makes you happy.

Keep smiling.