本刊資料

WILLIAM JAMES was fifty years old and a very successful businessman. He was the owner of a bottle capping company that made a great deal of money. Many people worked in his company， and they all liked the way William treated them.

William had a very nice wife， a son， and two daughters. His children were very intelligent， and his wife was a respected lawyer. He loved his family and always remembered to tell them how much he cared. They lived in a large， brick house with a lovely garden behind it.

William seemed like a very happy man， but inside he felt unhappy and frustrated. When William was a young man， he had wanted to be a doctor with all his heart. He studied medical books and learned about how the human body works. He went to hospitals and pharmacies to talk to the doctors and visit the patients. He loved to help people who were sick， but he had one big problem： he couldnt afford to go to medical school. Medical school was expensive， and Williams family was very poor. His father had died when William was sixteen years old. William was forced to work at the bottle capping factory to make money for his mother and sister. William worked and worked until he owned the factory and had a lot of money， but he felt that he had wasted his life doing work that he didnt really like.

The more William thought about it， the more bitter and angry he became. His wife knew that something was wrong， and she suggested he go to a counselor to get help.

The counselor listened carefully to William talk about his feelings. When William was finished， the counselor shook his head. “I dont understand your problem， William. Today you have plenty of money. Your factory can work without you and still make money. Why dont you go to medical school now and become a doctor just as you have always wanted？”

William couldnt believe what the counselor was telling him. “Are you crazy？” he asked. “I am fifty years old. How can I possibly go to school now？ Why， I would have to learn the most basic of things！ It would take me at least ten years to become a doctor. I would be at least sixty years old before I finished！”

“Yes，” said the counselor. “And please tell me how old you are going to be in ten years if you dont go to medical school？”

Suddenly William understood. He shook the counselors hand and thanked him. Then he went home to apply for medical school.

Eight years later， William became a pediatrician. He sold his factory and dedicated himself to being the best doctor in town. All of his patients liked him， and he was a very happy man.

William practiced medicine until he was seventy-five years old. One day his son came home from his job at a bank. He was upset and worried. “Dad，” he said. “I have a problem. I really want to be a teacher， but the bank wants me to keep working there. What should I do？” William sat back in his chair and smiled. “Son，” he said， “Do what your heart asks for.”

（本刊資料）