Vietnamese Fable
A long long time ago a human life was only 20 years long and was very happy and carefree. However, man, being selfish and wanting more, went up to God to ask for a longer life. God contemplated that request and denied it. So the man was walking down from heaven and bumped into an Ox who was walking up to talk to God. The man asked the Ox what he is going to ask for. And the Ox replied that his life is 100 years long and all this time is filled with hard labor. And he would like his time reduced. So the man walked up with the Ox. God considered the Ox's request and cut his life in half. This is when the Man snatched up the 50 years from Ox's life.
Once again the Man walked down from heaven. And this time he bumped into a Monkey. The Monkey told him that her life is 40 years long and during this time she is completely lonely without any family. So she was going to ask God to cut her life. So the Man walked up with the Monkey. God thought about the Monkey's request and cut Monkey's life in half. And once again the Man snatched up the extra time for himself.
At this point the Man had acquired 90 years:
The first 20 are fun and carefree.
The next 50 are filled with hard work that of an Ox.
And the last 20 are lonely.
And so this is how the human life is to this day.
(This story was told to us by our guide at the tour of the Tombs at Hue.)