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 .'
Crabby Old Man
