Life lessons: Rise above your problems, everyone has one

Two old men were brought to a hospital in a critical condition.

After emergency treatment, both were admitted to the same ward and tended to, as they continued to be very sick and bed-ridden. After a few days, both showed marginal improvement and one of them was even permitted to sit up for a few hours, daily. The other man could not move from the bed at all, so the man who could sit up, described the scene outside the hospital ward.

“I can see a beautiful lake and there is a family of swans gliding by. There is a park near it and many young lovers are seated on benches, holding hands, while kids are running around the play area,” he said. For the next few days, he described the beautiful world outside to the man on the bed.

A few days later, when the nurse entered the room, she exclaimed, “Oh poor man, he has died by the window.” The man on the bed opened his eyes and looked at his friend and realised he had passed away peacefully, looking at his favourite spot outside.

A week went by when the old man mustered some strength and requested the nurses to take him to the window. He was shaken to find that the window overlooked a bland, grey wall. He turned to the nurse and said, “He used to describe incredible scenes of beauty to me. Maybe he did it to make me happy.” The nurse looked at him sadly.

“The other man was blind,” she said, gently. “But he was one who spread joy.”

MORAL: Happiness, when spread, brings double joy. Reach out to others.