The Wise Old Man

A man of 92 years, very well presented,

who took great care in his appearance,

was moving into an elderly persons home.

His wife had recently passed away,

and he was obliged to leave his home.

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,

the assistant describes his small room to him,

including the sheet hung at the window

which serves as a curtain.

"I like it very much",

he says,

(with the enthusiasm of an 8 year old boy

who has just been given a new puppy).

"Mr. Jones,

you haven’t even seen the room yet,

just hang on a moment,

we are almost there".

"That has nothing to do with it",

he replies.

"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".

"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 whether

I 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".

"Old age is like a bank account.

You withdraw in later life

what you have deposited along the way".

So, my advice to you is to deposit all the happiness you can in your bank account of memories.

And Thank You for your part

in filling my account with happy memories,

which I am still continuing to fill…

Remember these simple guidelines for happiness.

1. Free your heart from hate.

2. Free your mind from worry.

3. Live simply.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less.

If you like, send this message on….

it is the way we touch each other with simple truths

that spreads goodness in the world.

Who knows, a miracle may happen as a result …

After all life is what you make it …

Happy?

Are you Happy ?

Does your spouse make you happy, truly happy?
On a certain occasion, during an elegant welcoming reception for the new Director of Marketing of an
important London company, some of the wives of the other directors, who wanted to get acquainted with the
new spouse, asked her with some hesitation:

The husband, who at the moment was not at her side, but was sufficiently near to hear the question, paid attention to the conversation, sitting up slightly, feeling secure, even filling his chest lightly in pride, knowing that his spouse would answer affirmatively, since she had always been there for him during their marriage.

Nevertheless, to both his and the others’ surprise, she replied simply:


“No, no he doesn’t make me happy...

The room became uncomfortably silent, as if everyone were listening to the spouse’s response.

The husband was petrified.

He couldn’t believe what his wife was saying, especially at such an important occasion for him.

To the amazement of her husband and of everyone, she simply placed enigmatically on her head an elegant black silk scarf and continued:

“No, he doesn’t make me happy …I AM HAPPY.”

The fact that I am happy or not, doesn’t depend on him, but on me.

“I am the only person upon which my happiness depends.

I make the choice to be happy in each situation and in each moment of my life.

If my happiness were to depend on other people, on other things or circumstances on the face of this earth, I would be in serious trouble!

“Everything that exists in this life changes continually: humans, wealth, my body, the climate, pleasures, etc.

I could enumerate an infinite list…

“Over my life I have learned a couple of things:

I decide to be happy and the rest is a matter of "experiences or circumstances;” like helping, and understanding, accepting, listening, consoling; and with my spouse,

I have lived and practiced this many times….

Happiness will always be found in forgiveness and in loving yourself and others.

- …It’s not the responsibility of my spouse to make me happy... He also has his “experiences or circumstances.” I love him and he loves me, often inspite of his circumstances and of mine.

“He changes, I change, the environment changes, everything changes; Having forgiveness and true love, and observing these changes, that can be, big or little, but always happen, we must face them with the love that exists in each one of us.

If the two of us love and forgive each other, the changes will only be “experiences or circumstances” that enrich us and give us strength.

Otherwise we would only be “living together.”

For some, divorce is the only solution;
(…in reality it is the easiest…)

To truly love, is difficult,

It is to forgive unconditionally, to live,

To take the “experiences or circumstances” as they are,

Facing them together and being happy with conviction.

There are those who say:

“I cannot be happy because I am sick, because I have no money,

Because it’s too cold, because they insulted me,

Because someone stopped loving me,

Because someone didn’t appreciate me!”

But what you don’t know is that you can be happy even though you are sick,

whether it is too hot, whether you have money or not,

Whether someone has insulted you,

Or someone didn’t love you, or hasn’t valued you.

BEING HAPPY

is an attitude about life and each one of us must decide !

BEING HAPPY,

depends on you !

F I N
Diseño original y galería de fotos de libre acceso en internet


Cortesía de Carlos Rangel
Santiago de Querétaro, Mex. Dic. 2007
Carlitosrangel@hotmail.com
Translated into English by
Paul Cushman

From Beyond The Grave

My friend, TO, sent me a link to a very beautiful and meaningful letter written by a father to his children. Paul’s greatest gift to his wife and children was a document titled ‘On finding fulfilment’, which Mandy discovered on his laptop, by chance last month.

Please click here to read that article that will surely move you deeply. Take care and have a lovely day.