On the very first day, God created the cow. He said to the cow, “Today I have created you! As a cow, you must go to the field with the farmer all day long and work under the sun! I will give a life span of 50 years.”
The cow objected, “What? This kind of a tough life you want me to live for 50 years? Let me have 20 years, and the 30 years I'll give back to you.” So God agreed.
On the second day, God created the dog. God said to the dog, “What you are supposed to do is to sit all day by the door of your house. Any people come in and you will have to bark at them! I'll give you a life span of 20 years.”
The dog objected, “What? All day long to sit by the door? No way! I'll give you back my other 10 years of life!” So God agreed.
On the third day, God created the monkey. He said to the monkey, “Monkeys have to entertain people. You've got to make them laugh and do monkey tricks. I'll give you 20 years life span.”
The monkey objected, “What? Make them laugh? Ten years will do, and the other 10 years I'll give you back.” So God agreed.
On the fourth day, God created man and said to him, “Your job is to sleep, eat and play. You will enjoy very much in your life. This kind of life, I'll give you a 20-year life span.”
Then man objected, “What? Such a good life! Eat, play, sleep, do nothing? Enjoy the best and you expect me to live only for 20 years? No way, man! Why don't we make a deal? Since the cow gave you back 30 years, and the dog gave you back 10 years and the monkey gave you back 10 years, I will take them from you! That makes my life span 70 years, right?” So God agreed.
And then you understand why...
In our first 20 years, we eat, sleep, play, enjoy the best and do nothing much. For the next 30 years, we work all day long, suffer and get to support the family. For the next 10 years, we entertain our grandchildren by making monkey faces and monkey tricks. And for the last 10 years, we stay at home, sit by the front door and bark at people!
第一天，上帝创造了牛。他对牛说：“今天，我创造了你！你是牛，你整天都得和农夫下地去，顶着日头干活儿！我会给你五十年寿命。”
牛反对道：“什么？这种苦日子你要让我过五十年？二十年就够了，那三十年我还给您！”上帝同意了。
第二天，上帝创造了狗。他对狗说：“你要做的就是每天坐在房子门口。不管谁进来，你都冲他们叫！我给你二十年寿命。”
狗不乐意：“什么？在门口坐一整天？没门儿！那十年我还给您！”
第三天，上帝创造了猴子。他对猴子说：“猴子就得给人逗乐。你得让他们笑，耍猴戏。我让你活二十年。”
猴子不同意：“什么？逗人笑？十年就够了，那十年我还给您！”上帝准了。
第四天，上帝创造了人。他对人说：“你的工作就是睡觉、吃饭和玩耍，一生何等享受。我给你二十年活头儿，就过这种日子。”
然后人不答应了：“什么？这还好日子？就吃吃、玩玩、睡睡，然后啥也不干？只捡最好的享受，您才让我活二十年？不行，哥们儿！咱们来个约定吧！既然牛还给您三十年，狗还了十年，猴子还您十年，他们还的这些您都给我得了！那我就能活七十年了，对吧？”上帝同意了。
这下您明白为什么了吧……
我们生命的头二十年，就吃饭、睡觉、玩耍、享乐，除此之外别无其他。接下来的三十年，我们就成天工作、吃苦还得养家。再下来的十年，我们扮猴脸、耍猴戏逗孙子开心。最后十年里，我们就待在家，坐在门边，冲人吼叫！
谁不是青葱时无忧无虑、壮年时勤劳耕耘、暮年时娱人娱己呢？