Three Wishes. Orion Taraban. Watch the lecture on YouTube.

Watch the lesson on KineScope.

---

Original

---

My version

---

Imagine that one day you find a magic lamp. You give it a little rub and poof, out pops a genie. The genie says to you, Master, thank you so much for freeing me. As a reward, I am willing to grant you three wishes. No creepy catches, no strings attached. Just tell me your heart’s desire and quick as thought, it’s yours. 

So far, so good. Now, When presented with this miraculous, amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, are you going to respond, Genie, I really appreciate the offer. However, I’m just not interested. Thanks, but no thanks.

You see, I just don’t think it’s good and right to receive something I strongly desire so quickly, so cheaply, and so easily. I believe in the value of earning the things I want in life. I think it’s also more virtuous to sacrifice, often through great effort and over many, many years to achieve my goals.

And ultimately, I’m more concerned about cultivating virtue than satisfying my desires. Besides, I am afraid that getting what I want will be empty and meaningless unless it is bought with my blood, sweat, and tears. Honestly, if I don’t do things the hard way, overcoming obstacle after obstacle, I find no fulfillment or satisfaction in the outcome.

So unfortunately, I must consider your offer to be a well-meaning trap, which will only cause me to expect that all my desires should be realized in like fashion, without effort or sacrifice. I must earn my happiness, so I will respectfully decline.

---