At the Pearly Gates, beneath neatly arranged clouds, three Italian nuns arrived together after long, faithful lives. St. Peter greeted them warmly and smiled as he checked their names on his shining list. “Sisters,” he said kindly, “you lived with compassion and good humor. As a reward, Heaven grants you something special. You may return to Earth for six months and be anyone you wish, doing anything you like—just for fun.”
The nuns stared at one another in amazement. A lifetime of rules, and now total freedom. The first nun stepped forward eagerly. “I would-a like to be Taylor Swift,” she said, dreaming of music, lights, and joy. Poof! She vanished. The second nun followed confidently. “I want-a to be Madonna,” she declared, imagining bold creativity and reinvention. Poof! She was gone too.
St. Peter turned to the third nun, who stood quietly with a gentle smile. “I want-a to be Alberto Pipalini,” she said. St. Peter frowned. “I’m sorry, sister. I don’t recognize that name. Is he famous?” The nun calmly produced a small newspaper clipping. The headline read: “Local Man Alberto Pipalini Named Happiest Person Alive.” The article described a simple man known for laughter, kindness, helping neighbors, and enjoying life without fame or fortune.
St. Peter laughed deeply. “After all I’ve seen,” he said, “that may be the wisest choice of all.” With a wave of his hand, poof! the third nun disappeared. As the gates closed, St. Peter added a note to Heaven’s wisdom board: True happiness isn’t about fame—it’s about joy, gratitude, and balance.