A great note for all to read; it will take just 30 seconds to read this and change your thinking.
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the
same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour
each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next
to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat
on his back.
The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and
families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military
service, where they had been on vacation. Every afternoon when the man
in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by
describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the
window.
The man in the other bed began to live, for those one-hour periods
where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and
color of the world outside. The window overlooked a park with a lovely
lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their
model boats. Young lovers walked arm-in-arm amidst flowers of every
color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine
view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the
man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the
picturesque scene. One warm afternoon the man by the window described a
parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he
could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed
it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed. One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring
water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the
window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and
called the hospital attendants to take the body away. As soon as it
seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the
window The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he
was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his
first look at the world outside. Finally, he would have the joy of
seeing it for himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window
beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.The man asked the nurse what
could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such
wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man
was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, "Perhaps he just
wanted to encourage you."
Epilogue:
There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own
situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared,
is doubled. If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have
that money can't buy."Today is a gift, that's why it is called the
present."
