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."
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o," the old man said. "And what we think success is at eur lives."
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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."