So I was having a discussion with someone about the length of time the Bible stated humans were to live and of course all many contradictions and commentaries about it. This folktale came up in our discussion and you would agree human life do actually follow this pattern.
It was an interesting read and why I thought to share. There are several authors and different versions of the story but this was authored by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.
Enjoy!

When God created the world and was about to determine
the duration of life for all the creatures, the donkey came
and asked, "Lord, how long am I to live?"
"Thirty years," answered God. "Is that all right with you?"
"Oh, Lord," replied the donkey, "that is a long time.
Think of my tiresome existence carrying heavy loads
from morning until night, dragging bags of grain to the
mill so that others might eat bread, only to be cheered
along and refreshed with kicks and blows! Spare me part
of this long time."
So God had mercy and gave him eighteen years. The
donkey went away satisfied, and the dog made his
appearance.
"How long do you want to live?" said God to him. "Thirty
years was too much for the donkey, but you will be
satisfied with that long."
"Lord," answered the dog. "Is that your will? Just think
how much I have to run. My feet will not hold out so long.
And what can I do but growl and run from one corner to
another after I have lost my voice for barking and my
teeth for biting?"
God saw that he was right, and he took away twelve
years. Then came the monkey.
"Surely you would like to live thirty years," said the Lord
to him. "You do not need to work like the donkey and the
dog, and are always having fun."
"Oh, Lord," he answered, "so it appears, but it is
different. When it rains porridge, I don't have a spoon. I
am always supposed to be playing funny tricks and
making faces so people will laugh, but when they give
me an apple and I bite into it, it is always sour. How
often is sorrow hidden behind a joke. I cannot put up
with all that for thirty years!"
God had mercy and gave him ten years. Finally man
made his appearance. Cheerful, healthy, and refreshed,
he asked God to determine the duration of his life.
"You shall live thirty years," spoke the Lord. "Is that
enough for you?"
"What a short time!" cried the man. "When I have built a
house and a fire is burning on my own hearth, when I
have planted trees that blossom and bear fruit, and am
just beginning to enjoy life, then I am to die. Oh, Lord,
extend my time."
"I will add the donkey's eighteen years," said God.
"That is not enough," replied the man.
"You shall also have the dog's twelve years."
"Still too little."
"Well, then," said God, "I will give you the monkey's ten
years as well, but you shall receive no more."
The man went away, but he was not satisfied.
Thus man lives seventy years. The first thirty are his
human years, and they quickly disappear. Here he is
healthy and happy; he works with pleasure, and enjoys
his existence. The donkey's eighteen years follow. Here
one burden after the other is laid on him; he carries the
grain that feeds others, and his faithful service is
rewarded with kicks and blows. Then come the dog's
twelve years, and he lies in the corner growling, no
longer having teeth with which to bite. And when this
time is past, the monkey's ten years conclude. Now man
is weak headed and foolish; he does silly things and
becomes a laughingstock for children.

Lool wonderful