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10 / The Present	Spencer Johnson, M.D.

Bill sipped his glass of water and then said slowly, "Liz, I hesitate because you've always seemed to be so skeptical. And this is the type of story you might dismiss too easily."
At that point, Liz let her guard down. She confessed that she was under a great deal of stress, in her job and personal life, and had come to lunch hoping to get some help.
Bill remembered when he felt that way.
Liz said, "I really want to hear the story."
Bill had always liked and respected Liz. So he said, "I'd be happy to tell it to you, if you agree that what you get and use from the story is up to you.
"And," he added, "if you find it useful, that you will share it with others."
Liz agreed and Bill continued. "When I first heard it, I realized at some point in the story that there was a great deal more to it than I had anticipated.
"I found myself taking notes throughout the story to help me remember the insights I might want to use later."
Liz wondered what she might find useful for herself. She took out a small notepad and said, "I'm ready to listen."
Then Bill began to tell the story of The Present.