It will take just 60 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 colour 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 colour
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
details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine
this picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a
parade passing by.
Although the other man could not hear the band -he could
see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive
words.
Days, weeks and months 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 real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to
look out the window besides 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 is why it is called The Present.’
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