i lived for thousands of years...

I lived for thousands and
thousands of years
as a mineral. And then I died
and became a plant.
And I lived for thousands and
thousands of years
as a plant. And then I died
and became an animal.
And I lived for thousands and
thousands of years
as a mineral. And then I died
and became a human being.

Tell me, what have I ever
lost by dying?

Rumi
(translated by Coleman Barks)