Spencer Johnson, M.D.	The Present / 13
ONCE there was a boy, who listened to a wise old man, and thus began to learn about The Present.
The old man and the boy had known each other for more than a year, and enjoyed talking together.
One day the old man said, "It is called simply `The Present' because, of all the gifts you might receive, you will find this present is the most valuable one of all."
"Why is it so valuable?" the boy asked.
The old man explained. "Because when you receive this gift, you enjoy things more, and you are able to do whatever you do better each day."
"Wow!" the little boy exclaimed, although not fully understanding. "I hope someone gives me The Present someday. Maybe I'll get it for my birthday."
Then the boy ran off to play.
The old man smiled.
He wondered how many birthdays would pass before the boy would realize the value of The Present.

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The old man enjoyed watching the boy play in the neighborhood.
He often saw a smile on the youngster's face and heard him laughing as he swung from a nearby tree.
The boy was happy and completely engaged in whatever he was doing. He was a joy to behold.
As the boy grew older, the old man couldn't help but notice the way the boy worked.
On Saturday mornings, he would occasionally observe his young friend mowing the lawn across the street.
The boy actually whistled while he worked. He seemed to be happy no matter what he was doing.
One morning the boy saw the old man, and remembered what the old man had told him about The Present.

Spencer Johnson, M.D.
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Spencer Johnson, M.D.	The Present / 15
The boy knew all about presents, like the bicycle he got for his last birthday and the gifts he'd found under the tree. on Christmas morning.
But as he thought more about it, he realized that the joy of those presents didn't last very long.
He wondered, "What is so special about The Present?
"What could make it so much better than any other present?
"What could make me happier, and better at doing things?"
Wanting answers to his questions, he crossed the street to ask the old man.
He asked what a young boy might ask. "Is The Present a magic wand that can make all my wishes come true?"
"No," the old man answered with a laugh. "The Present is not about magic or wishing."
Unsure of the old man's answer, the boy returned -to his work mowing the lawn, still wondering about The Present.

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As he grew older, the boy continued to wonder about The Present. If it has nothing to do with wishing, could it have something to do with going away to someplace special?
Did it mean traveling to a foreign land, where everything looked different: the people, the clothes they wore, the language they spoke, the houses they lived in, even their money? How would he get there?
He went to see the old man.
"Is The Present," he asked, "a time machine that I could get in and go anywhere I wanted?"
"No," the old man replied. "When you receive The Present, you no longer spend your time dreaming about being somewhere else."

Spencer Johnson, M.D.
)lder, the boy continued to Present. If it has nothing to could it have something to y to someplace special?
traveling to a foreign land, looked different: the people, wore, the language they 3 they lived in, even their ild he get there?
the old man.
>ent," he asked, "a time old get in and go anywhere I

man replied. "When you it, you no longer spend your )ut being somewhere else."

Spencer Johnson, M.D.	The Present / 17
TIME passed and the boy grew into, his teens.
He became more and more dissatisfied. He had hoped he would enjoy things more as he grew older. But he always seemed to want more � more friends, more things, more excitement.
In his impatience, he dreamed about what awaited him out in the world. His thoughts drifted back to his talks with the old man and he found himself thinking more and more about the promise of The Present.
He approached the old man again and asked, "Is The Present something that will make me rich?"
"Yes, in a way it can," the old man told him. "The Present can lead you to many kinds of riches. But its true value is not measured in gold or money alone."
The teenager was confused.
"You told me earlier that when you receive The Present, you enjoy your life more."
"Yes," the old man said. "And you are more effective, so you can do things better, and that makes you more successful."
"What do you mean by being more successful?" the teenager wanted to know.

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"Being more successful means setting more of what you need," the old man said, "whatever you think is important."
"So, I get to decide what success is for me?" the teenager asked.
"Yes, we all do," the old man said. "And we may change what we think success is at different times in our lives."
"For you now, it may be having a better relationship with your parents, getting better grades in school, or doing better in sports, or getting a part time job after school, and getting a raise because you do the job better.
"Later, it may mean being more productive and prosperous, or feeling more peaceful and better� aiut yourself, no matter what happens. That's a special kind of success."
"What is it for you?" the teen asked.
The old man laughed, "At this phase of my life, it means laughing more often, loving more deeply and being of greater service"
The teen responded, "And you say The Present helps you do all this?"
"Absolutely!" the old man exclaimed.
"Well, I've never heard anyone else talk about such a present. I am beginning to think it doesn't exist."
The old man replied, "Oh, it exists. But I'm afraid you don't yet understand."

Spencer Johnson, M.D.	The Present / 19
You Already Know What The Present Is.

You Already Know Where To Find It.

And You Already Know
How It Can Make You
Happier And More Successful.

You Knew It Best When
You Were Younger.

You Have Simply Forgotten.

tt

Spencer Johnson, M.D.
successful means getting u need," the old man said, nk is important."
decide what success is for asked.
o," the old man said. "And what we think success is at eur lives."
it may be having a better your parents, getting better or doing better in sports, or me job after school, and ause you do the job better.
mean being more productive r feeling more peaceful and elf, no matter what happens. 1d of success."
you?" the teen asked. tughed, "At this phase of my aghing more often, loving eing of greater service." ,onded, "And you say The Jo all this?"
he old man exclaimed.
ver heard anyone else talk at. I am beginning to think it

replied, "Oh, it exists. But 't yet understand."

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The old man inquired, "When you were younger, mowing the lawn, was that a good time or a bad time for you?"
"A good time," the once-little-boy said.
"What made it good?" the old man asked.
The teenager thought for a moment, and said, "Because I loved what I was doing. I did such a good job that our neighbors asked me to cut their lawns as well. In fact I made quite a lot of money for a kid my age."
"And what did you think about as you worked?" the old man inquired.
"When I was mowing g the lawn, I thought about mowing the lawn. I thought about how I'd mowed the grass through the tricky areas and around the obstacles. I thought about how many lawns I was able to finish in an afternoon, and how I could work so well. But mostly I just concentrated on cutting the grass in front of me."
He spoke about mowing the grass in a tone that made it sound like the answer should be obvious.
The old man leaned forward and said
li slowly, "Exactly. And that is why you enjoyed it. You were happier and more effective at what you were doing, that day."

G

Spencer Johnson, M.D.
n inquired, "When you were g the lawn, was that a good le for you?"
the once-little-boy said.
it good?" the old man asked.
thought for a moment, and loved what I was doing. I did that our neighbors asked me > as well. In fact I made quite r a kid my age."
did you think about as you man inquired.
mowing the lawn, I thought e lawn. I thought about how rass through the tricky areas bstacles. I thought about how was able to finish in an )w I could work so well. But -:entrated on cutting the grass

at mowing the grass in a tone 1d like the answer should be

Spencer Johnson, M.D.	The Present / 21
Unfortunately, the teenager did not take the time to reflect on what he had just heard. Instead, he became more impatient.
"If you really want me to be happier," the teenager said, "why don't you just tell me what The Present is?"
"And where to find it?" the old man volleyed back.
"Yes," the teen demanded.
"I would like to," the old man responded, "but I do not have such power. No one can find The Present for someone else.
"The Present is a gift you give to yourself. Only you have the power to discover what it is," the old man explained.
The teen was disappointed with the answer and left the old man.

i leaned forward and said And that is why you enjoyed er and more effective at what la day."