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True Happiness
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True Happiness |
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Night_Myst Junior Member
since 2000-08-16
Posts 34River Falls, WI |
I spent a summer when I was in high school as a volunteer in a hospital. I visited with a man named Gordon Jackson. He was dying from a terminal disease. I don’t recall what it was. That’s not the important part. He told me his life story one day, and taught me the greatest lesson about life that I’d ever heard. He said: “Jeremy, listen here. When I was just a little lad of two or three, I was sure that if I had a red tricycle, I would be happy with life. I asked and begged and cried for that red tricycle, and I got it for my birthday. It was wonderful, and I was happy.” “Soon, though, I grew and that red tricycle that I loved so much was too small. We sold it at a garage sale.” “Then, when I was a bit older, perhaps ten or eleven, I thought I’d be happy if I could win the spelling bee in Mrs. Fish’s class. I studied hard, and did my best, and by golly, I won it. It was so great, and I was happy.” “But after a while, everyone forgot that I had won. I went back to just being an average person." “When I was about your age, sixteen or so, I thought I would be happy if I could date Debbie Jutner. One day, I asked her to dinner and a movie. She smiled at me with that twinkle in her eyes and said yes. Life was great, and I was happy.” “Then we graduated from high school, and we both went our separate ways. She went to follow her acting dream, I went to college, and I was alone.” “Then, before I knew it, I was out of college and on my own. I remember walking into job interview after job interview. I couldn’t find a job. I remember praying to God telling him that I’d be happy if I could just get that job at the university. When I was hired, I celebrated. It was my dream job, and I was happy.” “Thirty years later, they had to let me go. They said I wasn’t any good any more. They said I had passed my time. The job that I dedicated my life to was gone.” “That was five years ago. Since then, old age has caught up with me. I have very little time to live. I realize that all of the things that I thought would make me happy, didn’t really do so. They left me unfulfilled. I never married, I never had any children, and I never had any grandchildren. I never had much of a family, and I never visited Europe. I never learned how to fly, and I never went skydiving. I feel that I have left so much undone.” “But, I have learned one thing as I lay on this bed every day. I finally realized what true happiness is. It wasn’t a red tricycle, a spelling bee, a date, or a job. True happiness is being able to look back on your life and to be proud of what you have done. Remember that Jeremy…Remember that.” Gordon died three days later. “Now Trevor, I am dying. That can’t be helped. I have a lovely wife, whom I love more each day. I have you, my son, whom I grow more proud of each day. And I can look back on my life, and say that I am proud of what I did, and who I am as a person. Gordon was right. That is true happiness. Remember that Trevor…Remember that.” |
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Midnight Dew Member
since 2001-01-07
Posts 50Forest Lake, MN |
This is a really touching story and so true! I really appreciated the lesson it gave, and really believe it. thanks for sharing!! |
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J.L. Humphres Member
since 2000-01-03
Posts 201Alabama |
Excellent story which has a definate ring of truth. Jason God is a warm whisper from the cool void. Jack Kerouac |
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Dawn Eclipse Senior Member
since 2000-01-31
Posts 637The Horsehead Nebula |
Nice Job Night Mist. I enjoyed this one a lot. It has a nice message to it. Wonderful write.  although, I think that trycicle is pure happiness. hehehe.< !signature--> "Forget regret, or life is yours to miss. No other course, no other way... No day but today" ~Broadway Musical RENT~ *Cassandra Roseen* [This message has been edited by Dawn Eclipse (edited 01-08-2001).] |
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Skoota Junior Member
since 2000-12-23
Posts 28Australia |
Definately the message is true. And as for the tricycle being pure happiness, Ha! Pure happiness doesn't exist, true happiness however does. The Depressed One< !signature--> Come to me Kill for me Worship me. Follow everthing I do Act it out before me Godhead - The Reckoning [This message has been edited by Skoota (edited 01-11-2001).] |
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