> 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."
>
> People will forget what you said...
> People will forget what you did...
> But people will never forget how you made them feel...
> 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."
>
> People will forget what you said...
> People will forget what you did...
> But people will never forget how you made them feel...
