A Guide to Happiness

Once there was a poor lonely man from Briarsville.

He didnt want to live, he'd long lost his will.

As he traveled down the road of regret,

seeing all his past mistakes he wished he could forget

All the friends he had turned on and lost.

His foolish ways and all that it cost.

When he stumbled upon a little black book just off the trail.

On the cover it read "Happiness for Sale".

He opened it up and stared at the words

"Travel to a place to where no one has seen or heard"

He stared at the page with a puzzled look on his face.

If no one has seen or heard of it, how will he find this place.

He placed the book in his pocket and continued down the road

Thinking to himself, what a cruel joke this riddle has bestowed

As he arrived in town with but a dollar to his name.

He decided to try his luck with the local lottery game.

He purchased his ticket with very little confidence.

Any motivation for success, he'd previously spent.

It's probably a loser for a loser he thought, without hope.

I am just destined to be, forever alone, pathetic and broke.

As he scratched the ticked, he became amazed to see.

$20,000, there's one, two and three.

He had won, he did it,  he really did!

For a moment he felt joy he hasnt felt since he was kid.

He quickly cashed in his ticket and thought his troubles will finally end.

It was unfortunate nobody told him, you cant buy friends.

He had plenty of new nice things but not a single soul to enjoy them with.

The fact he was still not happy was a feeling he couldnt resist.

Why isnt he happy, he knew what he was missing.

As he looked at his neighbors family, full of love, hugging and kissing.

Time past and seasons changed,

but still this hole in his heart remained.

However, one day while walking through the park.

Off in the distance he heard a frantic bark.

He ran into the woods from which the barks came.

Where he saw a woman in the river holding onto a tree with her cane.

He quickly jumped to action to pull her from the water.

Just as the branch broke, luckily he caught her.

Without saying a word she wrapped her arms around him.

And he felt a warmeness in his heart he thought he'd never feel again.

As he stood there holding her in his warm embrace.

Not a single word was said, but he would never forget her face.

Soon there after medics arrived and whisked her away.

He called out to her to ask her where she stayed,

but he got no reponse, she never even turned around.

As if she didnt hear him and again he felt down

Then later that night he would see her face on the evening news.

As they reported her story he noticed a sign through all the tv crews.

They said she was at home getting plenty of rest.

And the sign behind them read Briarsville Home for the Blind and Deaf

It was at that moment all of it finally made sense

He rememered the little black book and understood what it meant

A few days later he traveled to her home to pay her a visit

He could of never of imagined the welcome he'd get

The warmth and love he felt came at quite a suprise

As staff and residents alike hugged him with tears in their eyes

Never had he felt so comfortable in a place he knew nothing about

But he felt like he belonged, to this there was no doubt

To them this woman was family and they were for ever grateful to him

He was welcome to visit anytime and it's here he made a hundred new friends

He couldnt believe one act of kindness could accomplish what no money could

This is why giving up on life is something you never should

One kind act, with compassion and heart

Could change your whole life, could be a new start.

We never know what the world may have planned for us

But life is a process you must believe in. and trust

Its not about money or material things

It's about all of the happiness a community can bring