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A wayfarer carried a heavy sack about which he complained unceasingly.
From none could he get help or comfort.
And as he slowly journeyed, groaning under his burden,
the Angel of Optimism came to him and spoke kindly, saying: "Brother,
what does thou carry?"
The man answered in a surly way, "My worries."
The angel smiled pityingly upon him and said, "Let
us look into thy burden and examine thy worries." And so they looked
in.
But lo! the sack was empty.
"Why surely," cried the man, "there were two great
worries, too heavy for man to bear. But yes, I forgot, one was a
worry of yesterday, and so it is gone."
"And the other?"
"That? why, that was a worry of tomorrow, and it
has not yet come."
Then the angel smiled with infinite pity, saying:
"Listen! He who bows himself down under the worries of yesterday
and tomorrow wears himself out for naught. But he who carries only
the worries of today has no need of a sack for his sorrows. If thou
will cast this black thing aside, and give all thy strength and
cheer and courage to the things of today, real misfortune never
can burden thee."
Wondering, the man did as the angel commanded. And
as he took up his journey and went lightly, swiftly on, his heart
and his hands were free to relieve many a brother wayfarer of his
burden and to pluck sweet fruits and flowers along the wayside.
And when he came at last to the setting of the sun it was with smiles
and a song.
--source?
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