
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
What Are You Waiting For?
Do you think that you’ll be happy when you finally lose those 15-20+ pounds? Do you think that when you…
What Would You Attempt to Do if You KNEW You Could Not Fail?
What would YOU attempt to do if you KNEW you could not fail? Would you start your own business? Would…
How To Help Your Doctor Help You
You and I both know you are not a human Bento box. Trying to “unpack” your health experience by neat…
How To Talk to Your Psychiatrist
Why Can’t My Psychiatrist Be More Like My Therapist? “My psychiatrist doesn’t listen to me!” “I just walked out with…
Today Is A Crappy Day
Have A Crappy Day! One of the good things about positive psychology is that it encourages individuals to view the glass…
Stop Kicking the Turtle! Or How to Let Yourself Grieve
If you’ve ever suffered an important loss in your life…whether it was the loss of a loved one, a beloved…
Your Best Life Habits
As a psychologist, I’ve given this a lot of thought, because no matter what someone coming into therapy says they…
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…
The Bobsled Principle
IT’S NOT MY PROBLEM… My favorite image of a team is the 2-person bobsled. (Known fact: I LOVE THE OLYMPICS!!!!)…
Self-Esteem Is YOUR Job
Self-Doubt and Low Self-Esteem Not sure if you’re all that sexy and attractive? Do you constantly need approval from others?…
Stop freaking out!
Finding the balance is what we are all trying to do… whether we are talking about the balance between work…
Mental Health Symptoms To Not Ignore
There are hundreds of symptoms that can indicate a mental health issue is developing, but it can be difficult to…
Got An “Invisible Illness?”
“You Look Fine To Me!” What is it like to live with an invisible illness? It’s different from living with…
Daily Emotional Dialysis
Filtering Difficult Experiences I’m a big fan of the emotional equivalent of “emptying the trash.” By writing in a journal…
- Well Being (56)
- Life Hacks (18)
- The Big Picture (8)
- Health (10)
- Relationships (13)
- Holidays (7)
- Therapy (40)
- Anxiety (9)
- Depression (16)
- On The Couch (15)
- Life Planning (5)