Change Your Thinking…


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 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 calledThe Present .’ 

 

The origin of this letter is unknown, but it brings good luck to everyone who reads it and shares to everyone…

Have a beautiful Sunday to all!

 kiss smiley for orkut, myspace, facebook

Comments

  1. I’d forgotten I’d heard this before, it is thought provoking and makes you realise we are all too short sighted, we must make more effort…thanks

  2. What a wonderful story. I’ve heard it many times before. It’s been told so often, I wonder if it really happened…

  3. Amen to that. There is nothing more precious then giving hope and love to others to help them through life. Small things given are big things received!
    Ashley

  4. This gave me goosebumps. The reason why is from the very beginning of the story, I thought ot myself, the man by the window is blind. I can only guess that I figured that because I have had many wonderful experiences like this one; sometimes I was the receiver and sometimes the giver, but always the winner! =)

    -Cindy

  5. That is wonderful story.

  6. Inspiring post Dolly. Have a nice week!

  7. Wonderful blog! : ) I have nominated you for the 3-in-1 Award.
    Cheers!
    ~Beth

  8. Very beautiful and inspiring…

  9. Teresa Cleveland Wendel says:

    What a wonderful story–even better if it’s true. Yet, if it isn’t, there ARE wonderful people out there who bring happiness to others in similar ways.

  10. That’s a great story. Absolutely inspirational. I read it to my mother and she teared up. She’s not one to help others out if there’s no benefit to her. Thanks for the read. ~Annabel

  11. Merci, beaucoup for sharing that magnificent story with us! So very inspiring! I tend to be a glass half emtpy sort of person. I try not to be and stories like that one sure help.

  12. This could only have been posted by someone with a pure, truly beautiful soul.

    Since I don’t remember posting it myself, it must have been Toothsome. : )

  13. Dolly…you are always so encouraging and delightful. *Thank you.*

  14. If we would take a fragment of the time and effort that we currently use to point out the “wrong” in others, and instead use it to encourage others, our society would definitely begin to see a more positive perspective.

  15. What a beautiful story, Dolly. This was so heartwarming; Such a wonder share. Thank you so much! 🙂

  16. This is such a moving story…..true food for thought….thank you dear Dolly and hope you are having a sunny Sunday! 🙂

  17. A lovely story, thank you adolly!

  18. A wonderful story of sharing, thank you adolly!

  19. Toothsome one…. nice post…. heard and read it before, but always welcome to see, & always worth a repeat…. oh, btw, it took me 32 seconds to read, but I had read it before… English is my first language, too, so, not too impressive, actually…. Have a good day off….

    • Yihey!!! Marc Phillippe Babineau should meet you 🙂 You just broke the record…
      Thanks Ned and have a good day off to you 🙂 Not with me here from Saturday to Wednesday, it’s work here…Thursday & Friday is our weekend hahahaha

      • Nice days off… I always liked having one weekday and one weekend day off… the best of both worlds…. and, LOL, all my days are off now! I’m retired from work…. 😉

        Re: reading… not surprising, nor very special, just the result of reading alla damn time… I first got into the habit the summer of my 11th year, when we moved to a new town, & the only person I knew was the town librarian in this very small town. I spent all summer reading, and just never stopped… I took a speed reading course once, but gave it up halfway through, I was fast enough already…. 🙂 Practice, practice, practice, is the key to mastery of any subject…. 🙂 Take care, lady….

        • Thank you very much for this Ned and wow good for you everyday is a holiday 🙂
          Actually my parent bought us that Speed Reading by Reader’s Digest, so I learned some techniques on how to read in speed but you are right it need practice, practice, practice… and I never do it hahaha
          Thanks again Ned, you are awesome!

  20. I really appreciate this story. Thanks for sharing.

  21. Wow…what an eye opening story. It should make everyone appreciate every moment of life and be grateful for what they have. I know I’ve been further enlightened by this story. Thank you for sharing it.

  22. Such a heartwarming story. It warms the soul. Thank you for sharing.

  23. Reblogged this on Lois Roelofs and commented:
    This morning I found that my blurb on WOW Blog Tour #6 was posted as a “related article” on this touching reminder about the importance of hope.

  24. What a lovely post. Years ago I heard this somewhere, but had forgotten it. Partly as a nurse and partly just as a human being, I know how important the idea of hope is to all of us. It gets us through through cancer, through the challenges of raising a family, through the losses of aging and much more. And I was delighted this morning to find you on my post, and my post under your related articles, and now I will reblog this meaningful reminder you on mine. Thank you!

  25. Reblogged this on Lara: On the Weigh Down and commented:
    The last day of the week is an excellent one for reflection and gratitude practice. This reblog is courtesy of allaboutlemon and a powerful reminder of the true power of positive perception. A wonderful way to start your day and carry into next week!

  26. Thank you for sharing this beautiful reminder. It warmed my heart.
    Jess

  27. Jueseppi B. says:

    Reblogged this on The ObamaCrat.Com™ and commented:
    This is one of the most beautiful stories I have heard. I first read this during my end days in the U.S. Army years ago. Thank you Ms. Dolly from the blog: “allaboutlemon”.

  28. A really nice thought provoking story. Thank you very much for sharing it.

  29. That’s funny and inspirational! However, i sure would love to meet the people who can read it in 37 seconds! I can speed read, and it took me over a minute the second time… 😉

    • 🙂 hahaha that is absolutely not me either, especially that English is not my mother tongue… but there is this book called ‘Speed Reading” by Reader’s Digest and they teach some techniques on how to read by speed.
      But thank you that you liked this post and I appreciate your comment as always 🙂 Enjoy your Sunday!

      • I am a speed reader – i can read novels in a matter of one or two days if i concentrate – took the class my first year of college, and it helped tremendously – but even my third try took me over a minute to read all of that! But, it was a great post, i did not mean to take away from that….

  30. talesfromthelou says:

    Very touching Honeybee

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