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In the woods, on a high bank near the open seashore, there stood such a very old oak tree. It was exactly three hundred and sixty-five years old, but this long span of years seemed to the tree scarcely longer than as many days do to people like us. A tree's life is not the same as a man's. We are awake during the day, and sleep at night, and we have our dreams.

On the top of a cliff overlooking the sea was an oak tree that was 365 years old. It was an unimaginable age for the mayflies, tiny creatures who lived only one day. The oak only slept during the winter. The rest of the year, he remained alert. That year, like every year, he began to lose his leaves in autumn. He knew that he was about to go to sleep for the last time! - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist.

A memorable short story from Hans Christian Andersen. Is it possible that the time we spend on earth is viewed differently among from one creature to another? For instance a fly has a much shorter life than an oak, but perhaps it only seems that way. A challenge to our perspective on what constitutes life. Is it a measure of time – or quality moments?

"The last dream of the old oak tree" on Christmas night is one of those fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen that focus on his religious beliefs and philosophy of life. Dayfly and oak tree, short and long life, days and centuries, moments and history, life and death pass by in dreams and convey the comforting message that duration alone means nothing and that short and long life can lead to happiness and fulfilment—at least in dreams.