The Life Train

If you ever become mentally ill, then yes you are unlucky and I, and many more who care are feeling very sad for you. We will be there for you, and rooting for you. Also if you have found yourself to be delivered to a psychiatric ward, then that is sad too, and trust me people you know will be thinking of you, and coming to visit you as regularly as they can. And as angry as you are feeling, you are there because good people (your family, the police and your doctor), and others want you to get back on track!. I would like to tell you about that track!

“you are on a train, you are on a very long journey, this journey is your life, you have reached the first station, you are feeling very tired and not very well”. Some people on the platform have seen you through your window and realise you need some help. So this station happens to be the psychiatric ward you are dwelling in!! whilst you are there you will meet the station master (your psychiatrist) when you meet that person you might say “excuse me but why have you taken me from that train? I am in a serious rush and I must get to my final station!

The station master will hopefully say “ Hello passenger some of my friends saw you on that train, these people are my messengers, they called me and told me what they had seen”. Because I care, and I have cared for passengers on many, many trains of life, because I have done this many times and put many passengers back on many, many trains of life, because I have done this many times and put many passengers on the next available train, I ask you to put your trust in me, I will do my very best to refill you, and fill you back up, and I hope to fill you up with a new zest for your journey. And once you are filled up, and your zest is there, and I am totally convinced you are ready to get back on the next available train, I will smile at you and hopefully you will smile back at me with your newfound zest in your eyes, then I will give you my firmest handshake. after that, I will give you your ticket back.

My messengers will take you back down to the platform and sit with you and wait for that train. The train will hopefully arrive on time and when it gets there you may feel a bit nervous and unsure, just try to remember the things I have said to you whilst you were in my waiting room, and step onto that train with assurance, Confidence, knowledge, positively, peace and love, this luggage will help you on your journey on your new life train. That train will reach many stops along its tracks, there will be a station master, and messengers at every stop. And if you ever feel the need of a bit of refreshment or a rest at any stop. Don’t be afraid to step off of your train, and take a walk with the messengers to the waiting room for a chat with the station master. If this ever happens there will always be another train. So once all of our work is done you will be back on track! And I know you are in a rush but, try to remember, you are on the life train and a rushed job never gets done right!

The reason I know I know is, trust me my friend I am on the life train in front of you, and I have become tired many times, and every time this has happened I have stepped off the train and went with the messengers to see the master. When I have been ready they have always given me my ticket back and I have jumped onto the next life train. Our journey is long as we look out of our windows we see many things and learn many things, and as long as we keep ourselves safe and visit the master at the station, our journey will continue through life and trust me, even people who aren’t mentally ill will need a break along their way and I just hope they will never have to meet our station masters… enjoy your ride!

Get well soon

By James Mcatear