Hospital Window

  A great note for all to read 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 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 real world outside.

  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."