What you need to be happy: The shirt on your back

 A princess became ill, and the doctors determined that she was suffering from depression. To
cure her, the king hired musicians to play music near her bed, and he hired clowns to make jokes,
but she wasn't interested, and remained sad. A wise man advised the king, "The princess will become happy when she wears the clothes of a very happy person. Find someone who is always happy, someone who has no worries, and borrow his clothing. She will wear them, become happy, and will be cured."
The king sent his servants to find a happy person. The servants started their search in the wealthy part of town because “who is happier than the wealthy? What worries could they possibly have?”
They started at the home of the wealthiest person in the kingdom, but he told them, "I'm sorry,
and I know that this might surprise you, but I'm not always happy. In fact, I’m always worried that I could lose my wealth due to theft, fire, etc."
They went to the other wealthy people, and they all replied in a similar manner. They weren’t always happy.
They went to musicians, thinking that their music should make them happy; they went to doctors, because healing people is a joyous occupation, but whoever they spoke to had some worry.
No one was worry-free.
They headed back to the palace to tell the king that they couldn't find a happy person. En route to
the king's palace, they passed the poor section of town. They were disgusted by the filth of the slum and said to each other, "We certainly won't find a happy person here."
Then they noticed a tiny house, made from scraps of wood and cardboard, shabbier than all the rest, and on the verge of collapse. Surprisingly, happy music was coming from the hut. They could also hear joyous conversations coming from within. Is it possible that happy people live there?
They knocked, and the host joyously invited them in. They found a family seated around the table, their faces shining with contentment. The servants asked, “Are you always so happy?”
“Yes. We are happy with our lot. If we need something, we trust that Hashem will help us, and we pray to Him. We never worry."
"The king's daughter is sick and if she wears the clothes of a happy person she will be cured. Please, lend us one of your garments."
The head of the family replied, "It would be my honor to lend clothing to the king's daughter, but I don’t have any clothes other than what’s on my back."

(Torah Wellsprings, Pinchas, 5782)


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