That's How We Do It 'Round Here

We start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage, hang some bananas on a string and a ladder under it. Before long, a monkey will attempt to climb the ladder towards the banana. As soon as he touches the ladder, he and all the other monkeys are sprayed from above with cold water. He beats a hasty retreat. After a while, another monkey will make an attempt, with the same result. Eventually, when another monkey tries to climb the ladder, the other monkeys will stop it doing so. They know what the unpleasant outcome will be.

Now remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the ladder. To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the ladder, he will be assaulted.

Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the ladder and is likewise attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm too! Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, then the fifth. Every time the newest monkey takes to the ladder, he is attacked.

After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. They have have no idea why they are not permitted to climb the ladder but will still stop any monkey that tries. No monkey ever again approaches the ladder.

That is how many things are done within human societies. However, should others become annoyed when someone asks 'Why'? Maybe they have a point. There is no reason it is done that way, except that is how it is always done around here.

The Bank Account Prize

Imagine that you had won the following prize in a contest: Each morning your bank would deposit $ 86,400.00 in your private account for your use. However, this prize had rules, just as any game has certain rules.

The first set of rules would be: Everything that you didn’t spend during each day would be taken away from you. You may not simply transfer money into some other account. You may only spend it. Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $ 86,400.00 for that day.

The second set of rules: The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say, “It’s over, the game is over!” It can close the account and you will not receive a new one. What would you personally do?

You would buy anything and everything you wanted, right? Not only for yourself, but for all people you love, even for people you don’t know, because you couldn’t possibly spend it all on yourself. You would try to spend every cent, and use it all.

Each of us is in possession of such a “magical” bank. We just can’t see it. The magical bank is time. Each awakening morning we receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life, and when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is not credited to us. What we haven’t lived up that day is forever lost. Yesterday is forever gone. Each morning the account is refilled, but the bank can dissolve your account at any time, without warning. Well, what will you do with your 86,400 seconds? Aren’t they worth so much more than the same amount in dollars?

So enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than you think.

Perks Of Old(er) Age

Perks of reaching 50 or being over 60 and heading towards 70!

01. Kidnappers are not very interested in you.

02. In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.

03. No one expects you to run...anywhere.

04. People call at 9 pm and ask, did I wake you?

05. People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.

06. There is nothing left to learn the hard way.

07. Things you buy now won't wear out

08. You can eat supper at 4 pm.

09. You can live without sex but not your glasses.

10. You get into heated arguments about pension plans.

11. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.

12. You quit trying to hold your stomach in no matter who walks into the room.

13. You sing along with elevator music.

14. Your eyes won't get much worse.

15. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.

16. Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service.

17. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.

18. Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.