Metaphorically, the train track can be apt to describe the direction one’s life is taking, as a great deal of advanced planning goes into establishing a railroad line (e.g., easements, eminent domain, permits, municipal approvals) before actually laying down the tracks.  And then once the green light is given by the many constituencies involved (e,g., parents, teachers, coaches, bosses, spouse) in the planning phase, the time, effort and precision required to lay the tracks down is equally important.  This being the case because it is critically important that the life one has envisioned for themselves and their loved ones, does not get “derailed” en route to the planned timely arrivals at the various “stations” in life (i.e., significant popular milestones such as graduating high school, then college, establishing a career, getting married, buying a home, starting a family, etc.)

But even though you may have felt you had “the best laid plans” and have long been pleased with direction and speed by which you have reached the various stations in life, things may suddenly take an unexpected turn, perhaps after a rail switching error a few stations back (i.e., a bad decision on your part) and you suddenly find yourself barreling down the tracks toward what you know to be the last stop of “No-wheres-ville”.

It is at this point you must plan to get off at the next station, and change your direction.  And for God’s sake if you find yourself on “an express” with the wrong people — pull the damn chord for the emergency brakes, or if need be, jump off and hope for the best as you tumble down an adjacent countryside embankment !

What then should you do?

If are able to calmly get off at the next station, great; however, if you had to jump and managed to survive the fall, then brush yourself off and head off in an entirely different direction with an upbeat attitude, of course.

And what should you do next?

Follow the advice of the late rock star and guitar impresario Jimi Hendrix, as articulated in his diddy “Hear My Train A Comin“, featuring his magical digit manipulations on a 12 string acoustic.  In this case, the lyrics (reproduced below) tell of the need to part ways with those dragging you down, leave the town that put you down, make a whole lotta money, and then . . .

BUY THE DAMN TOWN ! !

Hear My Train A Comin’

Well, I wait around the train station
Waitin’ for that train
Waitin’ for the train, yeah
Take me home, yeah
From this lonesome place
Well, now a while lotta people put me down a lotta changes
My girl had called me a disgrace

Dig
The tears burnin’
Tears burnin’ me
Tears burnin’ me
Way down in my heart
Well, you know it’s too bad, little girl,
it’s too bad
Too bad we have to part (have to part)

Dig
Gonna leave this town, yeah
Gonna leave this town
Gonna make a whole lotta money
Gonna be big, yeah
Gonna be big, yeah
I’m gonna buy this town
I’m gonna buy this town
An’ put it all in my shoe
Might even give a piece to you
That’s what I’m gonna do,
what I’m gonna do,
what I’m gonna do

And for you Hendrix lovers who yearn for the electric version, here you go . . .