Old, but not worn out

As I was at the hospital with my aunt while visiting my grandma, I met old man who was curiously wandering the hallways, greeting everyone he met. He was slightly short, bald, I think he was Tibetan, but I swear he had the presence of the Dali Lama. Despite he was in a hospital, he smiled sincerely and said hello to my aunt and I. His eyes lit up as he told us that it was his last day in the hospital and that he would be going home the next day. He was just beaming with joy, that it made me feel happy as well.

He seemed to be spreading it to everyone else where ever he went! As he walked further down the hall, he saw a food tray lying on the floor. He bent down to pick it up, usually you would expect old men like him to cringe bending their backs forward, but he did so easily. The nurse came down the hall, pushing a trolley with dinner trays stacked high, thanking him as he tried to place the tray over top of the piles. "My mother use to tell me that there's always a second person to help." he said to her as he went on his tippy toes to reach the pile that was twice his height. I went over to help him and placed the tray on top of the stack. He grinned and thanked me. I couldn't help but smile back. it was contagious!

Then he decided to walk into one of the other patient's room. "Hello! Do you need any help?" He asked one visitor sitting in a chair by the hospital bed. I was outside of the room, I could hear him talking and laughing heartily. He had a pretty booming voice for such a small person. So full of life. After talking with the visitor, he went into the next room to great the other patients! He was just a sweet man. You don't see many people around like him these days. Despite the fact that he had probably gone through a lot, he seemed so selfless. He was happy he was going back home to his folks and was trying to give hope to everyone else by spreading his kindness. I admire that about people, but at the same time I feel ashamed at how selfish I can be at times. I hope that one day I will be as light-hearted and grateful about life as him.