The Train is Leaving the Station

Dr. Anita SanzMay 1, 2023

A Beautiful Day for A Trip

It’s a beautiful day.

The sun is shining, a light breeze… a perfect day for boarding the train to take you on that trip you’ve been wanting to go on forever. You’ve boarded, put your bags up, and walk to the back of the train to stand on the little balcony at the back of the caboose. You can hear the station master yelling “All aboard!” and the train begins to shimmy and ready for movement forward.

This is when it gets weird.

You look down and suddenly notice that while you have been enjoying the scene, a handcuff has appeared on your wrist… and there’s a length of chain attached to it that is locked onto the guardrail of the station. This is not good. The train lurches and begins to pull away. Quick: What do you do?

Metaphorically Speaking…

Now of course this couldn’t happen in real life… could it? No one is ever going to handcuff you to the train station just as you’re trying to leave. Metaphorically speaking… ever struggle with wanting to move forward, make a change, be different…but events and experiences are holding you tightly to the past, preventing you from “leaving the station?”

You Have A Choice

Go back to the train scenario… what were you going to do? Depending on your resources (and how many Mission Impossible movies you have seen lately) you might saw off the handcuff quickly so you could stay on the moving train. You could jump off the train so you could remove the handcuff and chain, and then either re-board the train or book another trip at a later date.

Or you could get ripped in two because you didn’t know what to do in the situation… okay, let’s not go with that option.

Letting Go of the Past

You may have had little choice about what happened to you in the past. But letting go of the past is a choice. It can remain there, as does the train station, forever. You can return to it, visit it, or never go back to it again. The fact remains that you are free to get on board, move, grow, and change.

Where Do You Want to Go Today?

The train is leaving the station. Your bags are packed and stored on board. Your trip is already planned and your future awaits.

Where do you want to go today? 🙂

Dr. Anita Sanz, PhD, Psychologist

The Art of Being Present

Marina Abramovic This week I am compelled to tell you about an amazing documentary I recently watched on HBO of…

Poke At Your Depression

What Does Depression Have to Do With Bread? When you’re making bread the old-fashioned way, using yeast, kneading dough, then…

Coping With The Loss Of A Pet

Pets for Mental Health Pets add immeasurably to the quality of life…. so much so that I have often advised…

How to Deal With Change

It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory. ~W. Edwards Deming This is a time of year when…

So You Want to Stop Taking Your Anti-Depressant Medication?

“I’m Tired of Taking These Pills!” You want to stop taking your medication. It’s too expensive. You’re feeling the stigma…

An Easier Path to Meal Planning

Are you spending too much going out to eat? Trying to eat healthier, but getting either bored or overwhelmed with…

Graduation Dance

Graduating from a school, college, or program is supposed to be one of those “happy” events we celebrate, falling in…

Stop freaking out!

Finding the balance is what we are all trying to do… whether we are talking about the balance between work…

Don’t Say You’re Sorry!

Say you are fighting with your significant other. I know. It’s not fun, but it happens. What do you think…

What Your Mirror Can’t Show You.

Have you looked in a mirror lately? You were probably looking for something: spinach stuck in your teeth from lunch, a stain on…

How Steady Is Your Relationship?

COMFY? How Stable is Your Relationship? Take your typical 4-legged wooden stool. It’s nice and stable…if it’s got all 4…

When Should You Freak Out?

Ho, Ho, Ho? It is January 21st today and my Christmas tree is still up. A hectic holiday season that…

Your Best Life Habits

As a psychologist, I’ve given this a lot of thought, because no matter what someone coming into therapy says…

My Favorite Life Planner Hacks

I have been using a Life Planner for decades, switching between different types to see which one worked best for…

Hi, I’m Dr. Anita Sanz

All My Articles

Licensed as a Psychologist in North Carolina and Florida, for over 20+ years I have provided psychotherapy and psychological evaluation services for a wide variety of clients and issues. I have therapy experience in working with clients with depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety and panic disorders, relationship/marital/divorce issues, child abuse trauma, PTSD, ADHD, adult autism, and eating disorders.