60 years of simple choices

I met with a nice fellow who had moved down the age continuum quite a ways.  He told me a story about when he was in the army, out on a two week training maneuver.  The weather was terrible, the conditions were awful, and everyone was miserable almost all of the time.  They would cut down a tree and light up the stump to try and stay warm, to no avail.  They slept off and on, but mostly off and usually wet.  One day, when he was waiting in the chow line, he kept hearing the cook whistle and then sing a variety of tunes and songs.  When he got up to the head of the line, the cook smiled and handed him what passed for food.  My new friend passed back a few choice words and expressions and then asked the cook how on earth he could be so happy.  The cook smiled and said simply that he figured it took about the same amount of energy to be miserable as it did to be happy and he’d just as soon be happy than miserable.  The words from 60 years ago have stuck with my friend and he was happy to pass them on to me.  I wish I had met him a few years ago.  It is so simple.