A man of 92 years, short, very well-presented, who takes great care
in his appearance, is moving into an old people?s home today.
His wife of 70 has recently died, and he is obliged to donate
his home for orphan house.
After waiting several hours in the retirement home lobby,
he gently smiles as he is told that his room is ready.
As he slowly walks to the elevator, using his cane,
I described his small room to him, including the sheet hung
at the window which serves as a curtain.
– "I like it very much", he said, with the enthusiasm of an
8 year old boy who has just been given a new puppy.
"Sir, you haven?t even seen the room yet.? I wonderedly asked.
" That has nothing to do with it ", he replied.
" Happiness is something I choose in advance.
Whether or not I like the room does not depend on the furniture,
or the decor ? rather it depends on how I decide to see it & how
I look at it."
" It is already decided in my mind that I like my room.
It is a decision I take every morning when I wake up.?
?I can choose. I can spend my day in bed enumerating
all the difficulties that I have with the parts of my body that
no longer work very well, or I can get up and give thanks
to heaven for those parts that are still in working order. "
" Every day is a gift, and as long as I can open my eyes,
I will focus on the new day, and all the happy memories that
I have built up during my life. "
