I found this in my in-box this morning. I've seen it before in several different forms, and have always thought it was a sweet story, but for some reason, today it hit me as something that I wanted to share with all of you.

These can be depressing times. There is so much wrong with the world, with our country, and some of our fellow citizens are behaving in ways that are almost unimaginable. Although I belive that man is basically a pretty horrid creature by nature, I also believe we are capable of being better if we try.

Take just a moment to forget all the fussing and fretting. The politics and discussions will still be here when you come back. I don't know if this story is true or just exists in a writer's mind, but I thought it was worth a few moments of your time. Enjoy.

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 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.

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 world his friend had desribed. 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.'

Thoughts that come to mind after reading the story...

        *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.

Okay, you can go back to the yucky stuff now, and hopefully with the goal of enriching someone else's life today, and maybe again tomorrow, and the next day...