Once upon a time there was a woman. An ordinary average woman: a house, a family, a job, a child. And it seems that everything is well, but there is no internal satisfaction and no happiness. That husband is not rich, that son could be better, that at work various troubles happen. She liked to sit down and sigh: why do I have all this? Why am I like this and not like others?
On one of such sighing evenings she was sitting on the porch and was pondering philosophical questions. Suddenly the gate opened and an old woman came in. She came up to her, sat down beside her and said:
- Well, come on, ask your questions, because I am already tired of listening to your lamentations.
The woman was surprised:
- What do you mean? Who are you?
- What do you mean? In the bucket! I'm your destiny, that's who I am.
The woman is numb, sitting there with her eyes flapping.
- Why are you staring at me with such eyes? - Come on, I said, ask me.
The woman asked the first thing that came into her head.
- Why did my son become an artist? Tanya's son went into programming, a money-making, reliable profession, but mine, ugh....
The old woman laughed.
- No problem, come on, I'll make it like Tanya's. But I warn you right away, your son in a few years will fly away to the other side of the world, you will only talk to him on the Internet, and photos of him, his family and grandchildren on WhatsApp to receive.
- No, I don't want that! - the woman waved her hands.
- How do you want to? But it will be like Tanya's.
- No, I don't want it to be like Tanоa's.
- Well, don't, so don't, - grinned the old woman.
The woman was silent for a while, and then she said. There is something wrong with my husband…
- What do you mean? - Destany was surprised. - Did he go crazy while I was getting to you?
- No, not at all! - the woman was indignant. - You see, he pays little attention to me, gives me a few gifts. I want to be like Zinka’s, whos husband brings her gifts from every trip.
- Yes, please. - says the old woman, - but I'll warn you too, then your man will have a sweetheart in every city. Do you mind?
- Are you crazy, old woman?!
- What do you mean? You wanted to be like Zinka. You wanted presents? So you'll get presents, but I'm sorry, with surprises.
- No, I don't want to be like Zinka's. - the woman cried.
- Why are you crying? If you don't want it to be like Zinka's, it won't be.
It's not like that.
- What's wrong? It's all right! You want to be like others? Go ahead. But you'll have to take away the sod too.
- You see," the woman persisted, "everything seems fine with me, but I'm not happy. Why am I so unhappy?
- Why are you so unhappy? Tell me, what do you think about in the evening?
A woman is thinking.
- In the evening, I go over in my head how the day went, what I didn't have time to do, what I have to do tomorrow.
- That's not right. You don't notice joy, you pass it by, and you cling only to sorrows and troubles.
- How so? - the woman was surprised.
- It's like this! Remember you wanted a red polka-dotted sweater?
- I remember.
- Well, I gave it to you. It didn't fit Valka at work, so she sold it to you, right?
- That's right. - said the woman
- Did you thank me for that? Did you notice how lucky it was?
The woman sits there, silent. And Destiny continued:
- Here. She snatched a sweater and didn't stop, didn't thank me, didn't rejoice. As if it was the right thing to do.
Well... The woman hesitated.
- I gave your son a job, at your request, by the way. He is still studying, but the foyer of the children's theater he has already painted. Did you thank me? Did you praise him? Why aren't you saying anything? Why did you lower your eyes to the floor?
The woman was ashamed and said to the old woman.
- Can you teach me how to do it right? I'll try.
- All right. I'll give you one more chance. I'll leave now, and in six months I'll visit you again. While I'm gone, here's a little notebook for you. In the evening, you'll write down all the good things that happened and say good words to yourself and others. Remember, the good change is also sent by me. I thought of you, too, to make it easier to get home after work. Got it?
- I understand. - The woman answered thoughtfully. Shook her head and added more confidently:
- I'll do it!
Time flew by quickly. Of course, it was hard at first.
It seemed to the woman, what a foolish fancy, to take note of little things and write them out, and then to say thank you to Destiny.
However, then she got used to it and it's amazing how many of them there are around! She got her favorite coffee at a good discount. She got theater tickets at work. She met a friend unexpectedly, we had a heart-to-heart talk.
It was not easy to say good words to herself and her relatives, it was a bit tricky at first, but she managed it.
Her son is happy and is successful at his work. Her husband was so surprised that he gave flowers for joy. They even began to go out more often together.
And after a while, sitting on the porch she noticed a woman drinking coffee and ... smiling.
She admires the garden and is happy to see how beautiful it is. She sees that it's going to rain and is happy because she won't have to water it herself. And she feels calm and good at heart…
Suddenly a gust of wind dropped a letter at her feet. The woman opened it and read:
"I see you've coped with my task, I praise you. I don't have time to look, I have a lot of things to do. However, keep noticing good things and thanking me. As a reward for your son I have found a good daughter-in-law, so wait for guests, get ready. And watch out for me, or I'll make it like Zinka's... Kisses, your Destiny."
The woman laughed and went to put up the pies, smiling and humming a simple tune.
