A young boy I was teaching wheelchair tennis to once told me he was upset about all the kids in school who would never be his friends because they treated him differently due to his disability.
I told him that I found, after acquiring a disability, that I lost some friends, but met many more. I also told him I met friends and people I never would have met otherwise, including many friends I was closer to.
His eyes widened. "Really?" he asked. "So it's a better gig?"
I nodded. "Sure," I said. "And I got to meet you. I wouldn't be coaching wheelchair tennis otherwise, would I?"
He laughed. "Nope. And I got to meet you."
Two tennis players walked by, obviously businessmen, their faces furrowed with frowns. Neither spoke to the other and they dropped their bags at the side of the net and began to pound the ball at each other, with occasional cursing.
"How happy do they look?" I asked the boy.
"Not very." Then he added "They look like they need better friends to talk to."
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