In the village lived two well-known couples.
One was called “Lazy Harry” and “Plump Trina.” They did everything at a snail’s pace, never rushing. While others bustled about, they sat in the sun by their doorstep, eating bread and drinking water. When people called them lazy, they didn’t get angry. They just laughed and said, “What’s the hurry? Life goes on anyway.”
The other couple was “Lean Lisa ” and her husband Lenz.
Lenz was tall and strong, but not very talkative, and he worked at a steady, unhurried pace. But Lisa? She was completely different. She was small and thin, but full of energy. From dawn till dusk, she was either sweeping the floor or cooking, feeding the chickens or planting vegetables. She was always urging Lenz: “Hurry up and work! Don’t just sit there daydreaming!”
Strangely enough, despite Lisa’s tireless efforts, the family remained poor. Food was scarce, clothes were patched beyond repair, and even decent firewood was hard to find in winter.
Sleepless Nights and Dreams of Fortune
One evening, after a day of backbreaking labor, Lisa lay in bed, too exhausted to move. Yet her mind raced.
She rolled over and nudged Lenz gently with her elbow. “Hey, Lenz, are you asleep? I was thinking about something.”
Lenz mumbled a sleepy “Hmm.”
Lisa said, “What if I found a gold coin, then someone gave me another one, I borrowed one more, and you gave me one—then I’d have four gold coins, right?”
Lenz opened his eyes. “And then?”
Lisa’s eyes lit up. “Then I’d take those four gold coins and buy a cow!”
Lenz perked up at the idea. “That’s fantastic! Once the cow has a calf, we’ll have milk every day. It’ll perk us up and give us energy for work.”
Drink milk? No way—sell it for cash!
But Lisa shook her head immediately: “No! We can’t drink the milk!”
Lenz froze: “Why?”
Lisa explained: “The calf just arrived. It needs to drink lots of milk to grow strong. When it’s big enough, we can sell it for a good price. Money matters way more than milk!”
Lenz whispered, “But… just a little sip? One small cup…”
Lisa’s temper flared at once: “You want to sneak a drink? Let me tell you, no way! This cow cost me every penny I saved up—you’re not getting a single drop!”
Lenz tried to explain: “I just meant… a tiny bit…”
Lisa grew even angrier: “You’re so greedy! I work my fingers to the bone every day, and you just lie around wanting my milk! Don’t you think I’m tired enough already?”
The argument grew more heated, nearly turning violent
Fed up with the scolding, Lenz said, “Alright, alright. Stop arguing. Let’s go to sleep.”
Lisa grew even more displeased: “Shut me up? You lazy bum! You tall, empty shell! You’re just like lazy Harry—always living off others!”
As she spoke, she reached out to grab Lenz’s hair.
Lenz sat up abruptly, seizing Lisa’s slender arms with one hand while gently pressing her head down with the other, forcing her back onto the pillow.
He didn’t get angry or hit her. He just held her down and said, “Go ahead and yell. When you get tired, you’ll stop.”
Lisa kept shouting, “Let me go! You lazy bum! You glutton!”
But she was too weak to break free. As she yelled, her voice grew softer and softer. Finally, her eyelids grew heavy, and she fell asleep from exhaustion.Only then did Lenz release her and lie down to sleep.
The Next Day, Business as Usual
The next morning, sunlight streamed into the room as both awoke.
Neither mentioned last night’s incident. Lisa rose to prepare breakfast while Lenz tended to the chickens. They went about their tasks as usual, no further quarrels arising.
As for that “found gold coin” Lisa mentioned—did she ever go looking for it? Did she borrow money? Did she buy a cow? The story doesn’t say, and we’ll never know.
Maybe she was just too tired that night, her mind racing, and she dreamed it all.
Maybe she forgot about it the next day.
Maybe she still thought about it, but never found that first gold coin.
The Truth Behind the Story
This seemingly simple story actually depicts a clash between two life attitudes.
Lean Lisa represents those who desperately want to change their fate. She refuses to accept poverty, always scheming to turn her luck around—even fantasizing about owning a cow could excite her for an entire night.
Lenz, meanwhile, embodies the “go with the flow” approach. He isn’t lazy or malicious; he simply believes in taking life slowly, avoiding haste, and not arguing over things that haven’t happened yet.
Neither is wrong, but the problem lies in: Lisa treats “things that haven’t happened yet” as if they’re real and argues about them.
She hasn’t even found the gold coin or bought the cow yet, but she’s already planning how to use the milk—even arguing with her husband over “a future sip of milk.” It’s like someone dividing money they haven’t earned yet, only to end up arguing before getting a single cent.
What Lesson Does This Story Teach Us?
1. Don’t fret over things that haven’t happened yet
Many people, like Lisa, love to think, “If only I had money…” “If only I owned a house…” “If only I changed jobs…” and then start planning their future lives.
But the problem is: When things haven’t happened yet, worrying, arguing, and making decisions about them only wears you out and strains your relationships.
Instead, focus on what’s in front of you now. Once you actually have the money, then decide how to spend it.
2. Hard work matters, but it alone won’t necessarily change your life
Lisa worked hard, yet her family remained poor. This shows: Working hard doesn’t always lead to wealth. Sometimes, methods, opportunities, and luck are crucial.
Take farming: Weeding alone isn’t enough. You also need to know when to plant, what seeds to use, and how to sell the harvest.
So instead of rushing around nonstop, pause and ask: Is my effort truly effective?
3. Couples shouldn’t fight over “what-ifs”
Many marital arguments stem not from real conflicts, but from hypothetical scenarios.
For example:
- “If I win the lottery, I’ll go back to my hometown and build a house.”
- “So you’d give all the money to your parents?”
- “Why are you doubting me again? I haven’t even won yet!”
These arguments are pointless because the events haven’t even happened.
Smart couples face reality together instead of bickering over “what-ifs.”
4. Dreams are fine, but take it step by step
Lisa wants to buy a cow—nothing wrong with that. But her plan involves: scavenging one, receiving one as a gift, borrowing one, and Lenz giving her one—entirely dependent on others, with no step she can control herself.
A truly achievable dream should be:
I’ll save up the first cow, earn the second, and then figure out how to buy the cow.
Starting small is more reliable than dreaming big.
Final thought:
Life won’t get better just because you think about it more,
but it will definitely improve as you take action.
Don’t rush to divide the milk—first figure out how to buy the cow back.
