As the FOLKS say.......

This is a story i heard at my village ages back and it keeps coming back to me everyday as i grow up...sometimes via the newspapers other times trough the experiences of a acquaintance...

Long time ago MAN (our hero of the story) had total life span of 25 years...One day the DEVIL (villain of course) lured him by saying that when even animals lived longer ,man 'the supreme creature' deserved better...So POOR man prayed , prayed and prayed...GOD appeared before him and asked for his wish...He said that he wanted a longer life...God tried to persuade him that 25 years were enough to live a fruitful life but man was not ready to listen to anything...Hence God gave up...He looked around and found that OX had a long life so He deduced 25 years from its life and added it to the Man's life...
The man was very happy...He came back home where the devil was waiting for him...He scorned at Man and ask him to ask for more life as he was not fit to die in JUST 50 YEARS...He said,"you are so young and you have the experience.You need more time to utilize that experience u have earned and pass it on to others"
Poor Man was again taken up so he again prayed, prayed and prayed...GOD appeared once again...MAN asked for more life...God once again tried to stop him but who has ever been successful to stop a MAN bent on doing something...So God again surveyed and this time deducted 25 years from a DOG'S life and added it to man's...
The man lived for some more time when again he was tempted for more life...He again......(prayed, prayed and prayed)and once again his demand was put in front of GOD...God this time reduced OWL'S life and added it to man's.

Hence at the end, Final words...
First 25 years of your life you live like humans,exploring,searching,learning enjoying and actually living every second offered to you...You have dreams and determination to fulfill them..
Next 25 years (26 - 50) you work like an OX,working....working...and working, feeding all those around you and having no time for yourself.
Next 25 years(51-75) you are now old...Your children are young and enthusiastic...You don't have that zeal you used to have previously...You are barking like a dog at them but they hardly listen to you cause they think that you are outdated...
Next 25 years (75 - 100) if you actually live long enough to see this , by this time you have learnt to mute yourself (like an owl),just sitting and watching and have stopped living...

So the first 25 years are the BEST that we can ask for,the most comfortable, cosy, protected, most memorable and most HUMANE...HAVE fun...Enjoy life...Cause its now or never..........