Certainly worth thinking about!

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. And
>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
>of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, 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 world outside. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it for
>himself. He strained and slowly turned 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 of the things you have
>that money can't buy. "Today is a gift, that's why it is called the
>present." The origin of this letter is unknown, but it brings good luck to
>everyone who passes it on. Do not keep this letter. Do not send money. Just
>forward it to five of your friends to whom you wish good luck. You will see
>that something good happens to you four days from today.