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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 their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where all they been on vacation etc. 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 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.
life is all ab... See Sabitha's complete reply
In this mad race of dog eat dog the virtue of making others happy has not only become rare it has almost become extinct.Now it's only how to keep ouselves happy at the cost of others.Leave alone making others happy we have stopped even thinking about others too.
Let this story be an eye opener to all those self centred narrow minded individuals!
Thank you Sabitha for your wonderful comments.
This is the true noble character, who finds comfort not in sharing his pain but in encouraging others to dream, to live, to find beauty. He found the strength to picture in his mind and then share a beautiful imaginary world, to make him and his colleague in suffering escape their real painful existence. His power of thinking, of suggestion helped both of them, make them feel connected, less lonely and hopeless.
It's so true and sad Pradeep, as you said, that in today's acerbic competition world we live in, we see so many finding joy in others misery and unscrupulous climbing up the social ladder in the detriment of others maybe more skilled or worth.
We should keep in mind that being human means caring for others, means finding in us the strength to encourage others, not to let them down, not to put your problems on someone else shoulders, but to help others find the courage to face their own problems. The real pleasure of life is in sharing, giving and helping others to find their inner equilibrium and peace.
before the story ends you can imagine he is lying but end "he is blind" its just shocking but then only those are the people who could see the real (God) world.
Amazing one, lots to learn. Great story to start my day.
Sujata
life is all ab... See Sabitha's complete reply
In this mad race of dog eat dog the virtue of making others happy has not only become rare it has al... See Pradeep's complete reply
They both are blind but one could see the other with his heart. He has reached his heart and filled his life with the nature’s beauty
People say that “Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear, and the blind can read”
May be he is one of the kind ……
But in really scenario though people are blessed enough they can hardly feel and can understand and also there is one more thing which is worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.
This a Bible Quote - “Do to others as you would have them do to you”…