I really like this, received it via e-mail, had to share it with you. It "speaks"

to me, is this what our posts can do for others? Enjoy, ana

The Man Beside the Window

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 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 called  The Present.'