Change Your
Thinking
It will
take just 37 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 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.
0A
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.'
The
origin of this letter is unknown, but it brings good luck to
everyone who passes it on.
Do not
keep this letter.
I pray
you will forward it to all your friends to whom you wish
God's blessings.
|