Thanks to Curtis for bringing this to my attention.
J

http://www.bestfriendmemorial.com/changeyourthinking.htm
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 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.

"Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present."