The 3 ways to Financial Freedom (Trilogy part 1)

I heard of a sage

who lives up the highland,

located in an old and hidden,

largely forgotten island.

I trekked all the way

right up to his doorsteps,

to ask the wise man

the secrets of his success,

and what ways there are

to be financially free

so that when I'm working,

I don't scream like a banshee.

After ten minutes

(it could have been twenty),

he broke into a smile

that meant aplenty.

"Three ways there are

to be free financially.

The First is a Monk -

the disciple of frugality.

The Second is a Shaman -

master rainmaker.

The Third, a Wizard -

investing kingmaker"

I'm not sure what's a monk

(I mean... I do know).

Will I have to live

in a temple in Guangzhou?

Can I have a wife?

Can I still eat at Tex-Mex?

Oh...no no no no no,

does it mean I've to give up sex?

Before I could voice-out

more concerns about being a monk,

there's a knock on my head,

like I'm being hit by a trunk.

The wise sage continued,

albeit a little angry,

"You can still have a wife,

continue your hanky panky.

You need the eyes of a hawk,

to track your own expenses,

and the immense strength of a bear

to slash spendings that dull your senses.

Eventually, you'll find felicity

by basking in simplicity,

purging the toxicity

of living in complexity."

"The way of the Monk

is to keep his expenses low,

and not to compare income

with people like John Doe.

By choosing instead to spend

on things that truly matter,

he deftly side-steps to avoid

becoming a source of flatter.

Striving to keep his ego

firmly on the ground,

he wins the rat's race

by simply sitting around."

"If you don't have the quiet temperament

of the frugal and disciplined Monk,

you like to party, to dance

and imbibe like a wasted drunk,

then this kind of simple life

is really not meant for you,

hence we shall take our leave

and bid this path adieu.

The way of the Shaman

and the Wizard lies ahead.

Now of the two pathways,

which one will you tread?"