Jack always knew he was special. Even as a kid he felt different from the other kids. Some people said he was introvert. Some said he was maybe retarded a bit. Others called him a nerd or a loner. Even the words “idiot” or “queer” were sometimes mentioned.
But Jack was happy the way he was. He always saw the world around him in beautiful colors. For him there were no blacks or grays. He spent hours walking around admiring the houses, the flowers, the people, the other kids, the animals, the trees, and even the roads. He was happy when the sun was shining and he was happy when it rained. He did not hear it when some people called him names and he did not recognize some of the looks he got. He was simply happy.
His parents loved him, but even they could not understand his happiness. They worried a lot about him, thinking that maybe the other people were right, maybe there was something wrong with Jack.
Finally, when Jack was ten years old his parents decided enough is enough. Nobody could be happy all the time. Something had to be wrong with him. They called the school and asked the headmaster about Jack and what to do with him. “What can I tell you?” said the headmaster, “Jack is progressing normal for a kid his age. He is never mad and never in any trouble. I wish all the kids were like him.”
Maybe we should talk to a psychologist his parents thought, so they called Dr. Morton who was recommended to them by the family doctor. Dr. Morton agreed to see Jack in a week’s time.
“Hello Dr. Morton”, Jack said politely when he entered the office.
“Hi there Jack, just sit across from me on the couch here.” Dr. Morton said, “How are you doing today?”
“Great,” Jack said, “it’s a beautiful day and I am really happy.”
Dr. Morton looked out the window. It was raining cats and dogs. “Jack, tell me, what is so great about a day when it rains as hard as it does now?”
Jack smiled, “There is beauty in everything, even though some people do not seem to realize it. To me, this world is just one big beautiful moment after another. No matter where I go and no matter what I look at I see beauty in it. Maybe it is as they say: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
“Do you ever feel sad?” Dr. Morton asked. “Sure I feel sad,” Jack said, “but even in sadness there is beauty. Beauty is not only an image, it is also an attitude. It all depends on HOW you look at something, and on HOW you perceive it.”
Dr. Morton was astonished to hear these words from a ten year old. “But doesn’t it get tiresome if everything is beautiful, if there is no contrast, no good or bad, beautiful or ugly?” he asked Jack.
“Do you ever get tired of watching a beautiful sunset, even though it happens thousands of times over a lifetime?” Jack asked, “Do you ever get tired of admiring a beautiful bunch of roses? And yes, there IS bad in this world, but I have decided not to let it influence me. If I can do something about it, I will. If not, I will have to accept it, but I don’t have to let it change my mind about being happy.”
“Dr. Morton,” Jack leaned forward on the couch and looked the doctor right into his eyes, “after listening to all the adults around me, their worrying, their anger, their fights, I decided that I would be different. I would see beauty in everything in life, and with everything I do mean everything. No matter how other people would see it, I would see beauty. I would surrender myself to this beauty all around me, and it would keep me happy. With so much beauty there is no need to worry, or to get mad, or to fight.”
After the session, Dr. Morton called Jack’s parents. “There is nothing wrong with Jack,” he said, “he is nobody’s fool. Just make sure he doesn’t change. And by the way, since it is such a beautiful day today, I will be closed for the rest of the day.” Jack’s father put the phone down and looked out the window. It was raining cats and dogs.
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Author:
Alfred Peyer (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: September 20th, 2017 00:04
- Comment from author about the poem: A short story I wrote back in January of this year. Hope it will not bore you too much, or even put you to sleep.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 39
- Users favorite of this poem: Christina8
Offline)
Comments9
This is a wonderful write Fred and to some extent it is the way I feel. Ten years ago I had a lifesaving operation and it completely changed my view on life, i try to see good in all things now, it is difficult at times, especially with my wife's problems but I am very rarely negative about life.
Thanks so much Goldfinch! I am not only relieved, but very happy that you liked it.
Thanks FRED ~ This rang a BELL for me ~ because I am JACK. I am an eternal OPTIMIST ~ I see Good & Beauty in everything ~ on MPS I'm an encourager. In College I'm castigated for not being hard enough on Students who are already struggling ! I wish everyone on MPS could be more like JACK ! Yours BRIAN
Brian, you just made my night! Thank you!
A fine write Fred. I suppose it's only the grumps who find positive and enthusiastic people tiresome.
Thanks Orchidee! I guess people who are "too optimistic" and try to shove it down other poeples throats are tiresome, but if you are happy just by yourself, then it should be ok.
Such a wonderful story to read. Beauty in sadness, marvelous. I sure learned a lot of from this ten-year-old boy. It remind me of the movie "Forrest Gump".
One thing should remember, do not trust any psychologist, they themselves need treatment.
Thank you M&M! I loved that movie. And re psychologist....as they say, you have to be 'crazy' to understand the 'crazy'. Just like lawyers, you have to be a crook to understand a crook!
Fred, wonderful. I could be here and write all the good about your writing but would take a long time. I have a lot of that Jack on myself, so much that one day I've met a customer and I was so happy about seeing her and her project. See looked at me and said; you are so happy all the time that it is disgusting. The whole world is suffering and you are always happy. What is wrong with you? And I told her; exactly because you see so many wrong things in the world is why I need to be happy all the time. The world have enough of unhappy people, I don't need to contribute to it. Luckily I did not lose the customer.
I love being Jack.
Malu, such a nice comment! Thank you! I am happy you are happy, and I am happy you love to be Jack! See, happiness all around!
Yes
What an absolutely beautiful story! This is going straight into the favorites. I have never known someone like Jack. This has changed my outlook on today and hopefully more days to come. Thanks for sharing this beautiful story!
Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Christina! And thank you also for making it a favorite!
A great illustration of the power of perspective, Fred, and the fact that it is within our control!
Thanks Louis, you are right. We control how we want to perceive our world.
Great writing Fred in both your literary style and of course content. People find me odd like Jack because i'm cheerful. Monday mornings to me are a time i'm happy to be out and about at work whereas so many find these mornings a chore. I guess the i'm blessed with the ability to see the good and positive in most things and in my comments on poets works here on mps i try to pass this on, if i'm not making one of my daft jokes. Forgiving people who do you a disservice becomes easy if you take time to think of their motivations too, anyway i certainly wouldn't want the baggage of carrying any negative grudges around with me. Whoever our god is, 'he/she/it' is a god of love and shows us love, once we begin to understand love then love itself begins to teach us more about love. A wonderful circle.
Thanks so much, da, for reading and for your wonderful comment. I too feel that it is better to see the glass as half full rather than half empty!
Thanks Fred for putting this out for us to read . I'm impressed with your writing , it's not that easy and you made it seem effortless. I think you had a nice premise and told the story well
This piece also makes me question my own outlook on the day to day, on the mundane, the unexciting routine of life ...
It's a beautiful day Fred , thanks
Thanks so much! Sometimes it only depends on our own attitude if the day will be good or bad. Obviously there are days where no matter what we think or do, nothing will help.
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