Four Stops

A man had four stops to support him on his journey. Each stop enclosed an envelope and pleasures to help him rebuild, regroup, and succeed on his way. He calculated that eventually he would need each stop.

This man was very motivated and calculating; he was about to undertake a high-risk venture, and although he believed in the venture, one part of him was not sold on the idea a hundred percent – hence the four stops.

At the first stage of his venture, he took the option to stop and enjoyed the pleasures that lay at that location. The note that lay in the envelope reassured the man that he should rest a while and wait until he felt the time was right to continue.

Days passed…
Months passed…
A year passed…
Two years passed…
Until the man felt that the time was right to restart his venture once more.

During the two years that the man waited for his moment to restart his venture, he noted that the world had changed in so many ways in just a short time. He had more competitors, more people on the same path heading towards the same venture; now he had to struggle more than he had to on the previous attempt.

He became disillusioned about the whole venture, and allowed his negative thoughts to control his actions. He decided to stop at the second location, the second option on his venture, and enjoy the pleasures that were his to enjoy. The note in the envelope he opened reassured the man that he should rest a while and wait until he felt the time was right to continue.

Five years passed until the man was again ready to undertake his venture. He quickly realized that the world had changed, time had moved on, and he felt that he didn’t have the same drive and determination he had when he first started out or even on his second attempt. Still he had some desire to complete the venture but not enough drive to go all the way without resting, hence he decided to make his third stop and enjoy the pleasures that was his to enjoy. The note that lay in the envelope reassured the man that he should rest a while and wait until he felt the time was right to continue.

One day passed…
A week passed…
A month passed…
A year and a half passed…
Until the man again attempted to complete his venture, he was well rested now and got that burning feeling within him again however, he still could not get reed of the negative thoughts that had played his mind and made him abounded his venture on 3 occasions.

The world had again changed and this time not for the best, again he saw more competitors and they were a lot younger than him. He felt bitter that he had left it so long before restarting his venture again. He had more experience than them yet it seemed that they were getting ahead of him because they had fresher legs.

Maybe I should stop at my last stop and regroup for the final part of my venture.
This time the note that lay in the envelope was empty and there were no pleasures contained at this location.

Epilogue
“Don’t let opportunities pass you by.
The man wasted all the opportunities that he had been given in his life; instead of going ahead and believing in his dreams, he allowed himself to waver in self-doubt, thus, the fourth and last stop on his venture was his grave.”