The ViewThe ViewSuch a beautiful Such a beautiful

story....story....

It will take just a few It will take just a few seconds to read this but seconds to read this but

it could change your it could change your thinking forever.thinking forever.

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

room.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.from his lungs.

His bed was next to the room's His bed was next to the room's only window.only window.

The other man had to spend all The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours The men talked for hours on end.on end.

They spoke of their wives They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, and families, their homes,

their jobs, their their jobs, their involvement in the military involvement in the military

service, where they had service, where they had been on vacation.been on vacation.

Every afternoon,  when Every afternoon,  when the man in the bed by the man in the bed by

the window could sit up, the window could sit up, he would pass the time he would pass the time

by describing to his by describing to his roommate all the things roommate all the things he could see outside the he could see outside the

window.window.

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

where his world would be where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all broadened and enlivened by all

the activity and color of the world the activity and color of the world outside.outside.

The window overlooked a The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.park with a lovely lake.

Ducks and swans played on Ducks and swans played on the water while children the water while children sailed their model boats. sailed their model boats.

Young lovers walked arm in Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in city skyline could be seen in

the distance.the distance.

As the man by the window As the man by the window described all this in described all this in

exquisite details, the man exquisite details, the man on the other side of the on the other side of the

room would close his eyes room would close his eyes and imagine this and imagine this

picturesque scenepicturesque scene..

One warm afternoon, the man One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a by the window described a parade passing by.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.words.

Days, weeks and months Days, weeks and months passed.passed.

One morning, the day nurse One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless baths only to find the lifeless

body of the man by the window, body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his who had died peacefully in his

sleep.sleep.

She was saddened and called She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the hospital attendants to take

the body away.the body away.

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

next to the window. The next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the nurse was happy to make the

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

left him alone.left him alone.

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.world outside.

He strained to slowly turn to look He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.out the window beside the bed.

It faced a blank It faced a blank wall.wall.

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.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.even see the wall.

She said, 'Perhaps he just She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.' wanted to encourage you.'

Epilogue:Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our making others happy, despite our

own situations.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.doubled.

If you want to feel rich, just If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have count all the things you have

that money can't buy.that money can't buy. ‘Today is a gift, that is why ‘Today is a gift, that is why

it is called   it is called   The Present.'The Present.'

If you want to feel rich, just count If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that all the things you have that

money can't buy.money can't buy.'Today is a gift, that is why it is 'Today is a gift, that is why it is

called   The Present.‘called   The Present.‘The origin of this letter is The origin of this letter is

unknown, but it brings good luck unknown, but it brings good luck to everyone who passes it on.to everyone who passes it on.

Do not keep this message.Do not keep this message.Just forward it to your friends to Just forward it to your friends to

whom you wish blessingswhom you wish blessings. . 

With my best wishes…