Finding Joy in the Present

Two men, both gravely ill, shared the same hospital room. One man, positioned by the room’s only window, was allowed to sit up each afternoon to relieve fluid in his lungs. The other man, confined to his bed, lay flat all day.

They spent hours talking about their families, their lives, and their memories. Every afternoon, the man by the window would describe the vibrant world outside—a park with a beautiful lake, children playing with their toy boats, lovers strolling hand in hand, and even parades passing by. His roommate, though unable to see the view, would close his eyes and picture every detail through the vivid descriptions.

For weeks and months, the man on the far bed lived for these moments, escaping his own reality by imagining the lively scenes outside the window. But one morning, the nurse found the man by the window had passed away peacefully in his sleep. His roommate, grieving the loss, requested to be moved to the window bed.

When he finally mustered the strength to look outside, he was shocked to find that the window faced a blank wall. Confused, he asked the nurse why his late roommate had painted such a beautiful picture of a world beyond the window.

The nurse replied, “He was blind and couldn’t even see the wall. He simply wanted to lift your spirits.”

Epilogue:

There is great happiness in making others happy, even when we face our own challenges. Grief is halved when shared, but happiness, when shared, is doubled.