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the hospital window
>
> THE 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."
> THE 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."
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