Such a beautiful Such a beautiful story.... story....

(1)

Such a beautiful Such a beautiful

story....

It will take just It will take just

37 seconds to 37 seconds to read this and read this and change your change your

thinking.

(2)

Two men, both seriously ill, Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital occupied the same hospital

room.

One man was allowed to sit up One man was allowed to sit up

in his bed for an hour each in his bed for an hour each

afternoon to help drain the fluid afternoon to help drain the fluid

from his lungs.

His bed was next to the room's His bed was next to the room's

only window.

The other man had to spend all The other man had to spend all

his time flat on his back.

(3)

The men talked for The men talked for

hours on end.

They spoke of their They spoke of their

wives and families, wives and families,

their homes, their jobs, their homes, their jobs,

their involvement in their involvement in

the military service, the military service, where they had been where they had been

on vacation.

(4)

Every afternoon, Every afternoon, when the man in when the man in

the bed by the the bed by the window could sit window could sit up, he would pass up, he would pass

the time by the time by

describing to his describing to his roommate all the roommate all the

things he could things he could

see outside the see outside the

window.

(5)

The man in the other bed The man in the other bed began to live for those one began to live for those one hour periods where his world hour periods where his world

would be broadened and would be broadened and

enlivened by all the activity enlivened by all the activity

and colour of the world and colour of the world

outside.

(6)

The window overlooked a The window overlooked a

park with a lovely lake.

Ducks and swans played Ducks and swans played

on the water while on the water while

children sailed their model children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked boats. Young lovers walked

arm in arm amidst flowers arm in arm amidst flowers

of every color and a fine of every color and a fine

view of the city skyline view of the city skyline

could be seen in the could be seen in the

distance.

(7)

As the man by the As the man by the

window described all window described all

this in exquisite this in exquisite

details, the man on details, the man on the other side of the the other side of the room would close his room would close his

eyes and imagine eyes and imagine

this picturesque this picturesque

scene.

(8)

One warm afternoon, the man One warm afternoon, the man

by the window described a by the window described a

parade passing by.

Although the other man could Although the other man could

not hear the band, he could see not hear the band, he could see

it in his mind's eye as the it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window gentleman by the window

portrayed it with descriptive portrayed it with descriptive

words.

Days, weeks and months Days, weeks and months

passed.

(9)

One morning, the day nurse One morning, the day nurse

arrived to bring water for arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the their baths only to find the

lifeless body of the man by lifeless body of the man by

the window, who had died the window, who had died

peacefully in his sleep.

She was saddened and called She was saddened and called

the hospital attendants to the hospital attendants to

take the body away.

(10)

As soon as it seemed As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other appropriate, the other man asked if he could be man asked if he could be

moved next to the moved next to the

window. The nurse was window. The nurse was

happy to make the happy to make the

switch, and after making switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, sure he was comfortable,

she left him alone.

(11)

Slowly, painfully, he propped Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take himself up on one elbow to take

his first look at the real his first look at the real

world outside.

He strained to slowly turn to look He strained to slowly turn to look

out the window beside the bed.

(12)

It faced a It faced a

blank blank

wall.

(13)

The man asked the nurse what The man asked the nurse what

could have compelled his could have compelled his

deceased roommate who had deceased roommate who had

described such wonderful things described such wonderful things

outside this window.

The nurse responded that the The nurse responded that the

man was blind and could not man was blind and could not

even see the wall.

She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted

to encourage you.'

(14)

Epilogue:

There is tremendous There is tremendous

happiness in making others happiness in making others

happy, despite our own happy, despite our own

situations.

Shared grief is half the sorrow, Shared grief is half the sorrow,

but happiness when shared, is but happiness when shared, is

doubled.

(15)

If you want to feel rich, just If you want to feel rich, just

count all the things you count all the things you have that money can't buy.

have that money can't buy.

'Today is a gift, that is why it 'Today is a gift, that is why it

is called ‘The Present.'

(16)

If you want to feel rich, just count all the 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 'Today is a gift, that is why it is called ‘The

Present.' Present.'

The origin of this letter is unknown, but it The origin of this letter is unknown, but it brings good luck to everyone who passes it brings good luck to everyone who passes it

on. on.

Do not keep this letter.

Just forward it to your friends to whom you Just forward it to your friends to whom you