Then one day an evil wizard came to her cottage and put a
curse on her so that she worked harder and harder and
never got any rest, time to enjoy life, or even take care
of herself, until she was very tired and very sick. She
went to see a wise man in the village to see if he could
help her. Everyone looked up to him for his great wisdom
and healing powers. He told her he could give her a magic
potion to take the curse away.

Julia became even sicker when she took the magic potion.
She could no longer work and had to rest and take care of
herself. But soon she began to feel better, and something
mysterious and exciting was happening to Julia! As the curse
left her body, her yearning for life also emerged. Her life
took on a radiance she had never known before!

The sky appeared as splendid as heaven to her. The birds
sang like a symphony orchestra. Her home resembled a castle.
A simple picnic tasted like a banquet dinner. Fields of
wildflowers smelled like the palace rose gardens. All the
things she touched felt like soft fine furs. Her family
became as resplendent as royalty.

Her husband appeared as handsome and charming
as the prince of the kingdom. And her friends were
transformed into elegant kings and queens. She laughed
more often, sang beautiful songs, danced lovely dances.
She loved the new life the magic potion and the wise
man seemed to have brought to her. She knew from then
on that she needed to take care of herself, love herself,
and love life.

"And what about the future?" she asked the wise man.
"Will the curse return? Will I need more of your magic?
Will I live like this forever? Will I die?"

And the wise man answered, "Although I have studied
long and hard and know many things, I do not know the
answers to your questions. The curse may still be lurking
quietly inside of you waiting to take over your life again,
and it may do so, and you may die. But in the meantime, if
you believe in the power of the magic, you will love life
and find treasures in those around you worth more than all
the gold in the kingdom! You now have the power to make
the magic yourself. It is your choice, Julia. You may
accept your magic for today with no promises or guarantees
for the future, or you can spend today in fear that the
curse will return. It is your choice, Julia."

Julia listened intently. She knew that her life would
never be thesame as it had been before the curse
had been put on her. She felt a part of life and all the
riches it had to offer. I'd like to say that Julia lived
happily ever after, but I can only say that
Julia lived happily!