Life is how you look at

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 .'