Constituton Project, Inc.

The Mission: Constitution Project, Inc., a Florida non-profit, was founded by Joseph Cofield, for the purpose of putting a copy of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence in the hands of every 5th grade student in Florida. That is a huge task, as there are over 200,000 5th graders in 67 different Florida counties, but progress ​ is being made thanks to Joseph's extraordinary efforts!

The How: Joseph began his mission in April 2014 and since then, many amazing things have happened. To gather support for his mission, in April of 2015 he began his 27 - 67 Journey Across Florida - visiting each of the 67 Florida counties, riding his bike 21 miles and running 6 in each county (one mile for each of the 27 Amendments). That is over 1,800 difficult miles meeting with state and county officials, school personnel and service organizations.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Makes you appreciate the good things in life:

September 22, 2015

I normally attempt to shy away from sending forward emails because it ties up your time and in many cases you probably seen it before anyway.

However, I felt a need to include this in my blog so when you are waiting for my posting of my final day of the Constitution Week Celebration; I want you to consider this wonderful message.

I have seen it before and have even shared it before but this is one that I never get tire of sharing:
 

Change Your Thinking
 

It will take just 37 seconds to read this and change your thinking..  
 
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. 
    
   
One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.
 
His bed was next to the room's only window. 
  

  
 
The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. 
  


  
  
The men talked for hours on end.
   
They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.. 
  
  

  
Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. 
   
  

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and colour of the world outside. 
     
   
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.
 
Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every colour and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. 
 


   

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by. 
 

    

Although the other man could not hear the band - he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. 
 
  
Days, weeks and months passed.
 


  

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.
 
She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away. 


  

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. 
      
  Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed. 
    
   
It faced a blank wall. 
     
 
   
The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. 
  
  The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.   

She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.' 
 
 
Epilogue: 
  

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. 


Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.
    

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy. 
  

'Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present .' 
  

The origin of this letter is unknown, but it brings good luck to everyone who passes it on. 

 
Do not keep this letter. 


I pray you will forward it to all your friends
 
 
If you ask why I put this on my blog page, my answer is simple. Each time I did the running and cycling, I knew that getting those 200,000 Constitution booklets will become a reality.
 
Some profess that it is blind faith and I only can reply that is the way I have always led my life by staying positive and believing in the best to come.
 
I will get back to the stories of my journey across Florida in my next blog.
 
Joseph

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