Are you a mule, a dog, or a monkey?

God created the mule, and told him, "You will be Mule, working constantly from dusk to dawn, carrying heavy loads on your back. You will eat grass and you lack intelligence. You will live for 50 years." The mule answered: "To live like this for 50 years is too much. Please, give me no more than 20." And it was so.

Then God created the dog, and told him, "You will hold vigilance over the dwellings of Man, to whom you will be his greatest companion. You will eat his table scraps and live for 25 years. And the dog responded, "Lord, to live 25 years as a dog is too much. Please, no more than 10 years." And it was so.

God then created the monkey, and told him, "You are Monkey. You shall swing from tree to tree, acting like an idiot. You will be funny, and you shall live for 20 years." And the monkey responded, "Lord, to live 20 years as the clown of the world is too much. Please, Lord, give me no more than 10 years." And it was so.Finally, God created Man and told him, "You are Man, the only rational being that walks the earth. You will use your intelligence to have mastery over the creatures of the world. You will dominate the earth and live for 20 years." And the man responded, "Lord, to be Man for only 20 years is too little. Please, Lord, give me the 30 years the mule refused, the 15 years the dog refused, and the ten years the monkey rejected." And it was so.

So God made Man to live 20 years as a man, then marry and live 30 years like a mule working and carrying heavy loads on his back. Then, he is to have children and live 15 years as a dog, guarding his house and eating the leftovers after they empty the pantry; then, in his old age, to live 10 years as a monkey, acting like a clown to amuse his grandchildren.

(Source: As Shared by Evelyn Hall at www.witandwisdom.org)

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When I look back at the last three decades before me, I still wonder how I am going to spend the next three should the Almighty grant me. I have always tried to make my life meaningful each year by making it purposeful in every way and turn, through thick and thin. I must admit, I failed a dozen times in various areas, albeit, I emerged victorious in some, and I have also learned painful lessons in the process.

2009 is here!

As I look back, I realized that I have labored so hard last year, almost 3 times the previous year. Ahh! I worked so damn hard like a mule. I do not want that! I would like to face 2009 with an entirely different approach, and purpose. I will not live another year in hard toils –never. I will make this one the most profitable and purpose-driven year ever. So, help me God.

How about you?