One
Story, Two Perspectives
( Good to re-read this article even though you may have read it before)
A
famous book writer sat in his study. He took out his pen and began to write:
“Last
year, I had surgery to remove gallstones. I was bedridden for a long time.
In
the same year, I turned 60 and was retired … quitting a company that I loved so
much. I had to leave the job I've been doing for 35 years.
That
same year I was abandoned by my beloved mother who passed away.
Then,
still in the same year, my son failed his final medical exam because of a car
accident. Repair costs from the car damage marked the peak of bad luck last
year.”
At
the end he wrote:
*“What,
what a bad year!"*
The
writer's wife entered the room and found her husband who was sad and pensive.
From behind, the wife saw the husband's writing. Slowly she backed away and
left the room.
15
minutes later she came back in and put down a piece of paper with the following
words:
“Last
year, my husband finally managed to get rid of his gallbladder which had been
making his stomach hurt for years.
That
same year, I am grateful that my husband was able to retire in a healthy and
happy state of mind & body. I thank God he was given the opportunity to
work and earn for 35 years to support our family.
Now,
my husband can spend more of his time writing, which has always been his hobby.
In
the same year, my 95 year old mother-in-law, without any pain, returned to God
in peace.
And
still in the same year, God protected our son from harm in a terrible car
accident. Our car was seriously damaged by the accident, but my son survived
without any serious injuries.”
In
the last sentence his wife wrote:
*“Last
year was a year full of extraordinary blessings from God, and we spent it full
of wonder and gratitude.”*
The
writer smiled with emotion, and warm tears flowed down his cheeks. He was
grateful for a different point of view for every event he had gone through the
past year.
*A different perspective of the same events
now made him joyful.*
Friends,
in this life we must understand that it is not happiness or joy that makes us
grateful.
It is *gratitude that makes us happy/joyful*!
Let’s practice seeing events from a positive point of view and keep envy away
from our hearts.
*”We
can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes
have roses.”*
*Abraham
Lincoln*
A positive approach to an incident and positive thinking makes one's life light and happy. Very good.
ReplyDeleteFor no reason I am thinking about a Tamil movie 12B. The hero was trying to catch the bus 12B for a job interview. He misses the bus. The movie shows both..how his life turned out and if he had not missed the bus how his life would have turned out.
ReplyDeleteThank you SG. for the nice comments.
ReplyDelete