> A Philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front
> of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and
> empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks that were about 2"
> in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed
> that it was.
>
> So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the
> jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the
> open areas between the rocks.He then asked the students again if the jar
> was full. They agreed it was.
>
> The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of
> course the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the
> jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous - yes.
>
> The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and
> proceeded to pour the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the
> empty space between the sand.
>
> The students laughed.
>
> "Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to
> recognize that this jar represents your life.
>
> The rocks are the important things - your family,your partner, your
> health,and your children --things that if everything else was lost and only
> they remained, your life would still be full."
>
> "The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house,and
> your car. The sand is everything else - the small stuff."
>
> "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room
> for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend
> all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for
> the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are
> critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get
> medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be
> time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the
> disposal."
>
> "Take care of the rocks first -- the things that really matter. Set your
> priorities. The rest is just sand."
>
> One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented.
>
> The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that
> no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of
> beers."
> of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and
> empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks that were about 2"
> in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed
> that it was.
>
> So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the
> jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the
> open areas between the rocks.He then asked the students again if the jar
> was full. They agreed it was.
>
> The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of
> course the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the
> jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous - yes.
>
> The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and
> proceeded to pour the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the
> empty space between the sand.
>
> The students laughed.
>
> "Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to
> recognize that this jar represents your life.
>
> The rocks are the important things - your family,your partner, your
> health,and your children --things that if everything else was lost and only
> they remained, your life would still be full."
>
> "The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house,and
> your car. The sand is everything else - the small stuff."
>
> "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room
> for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend
> all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for
> the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are
> critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get
> medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be
> time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the
> disposal."
>
> "Take care of the rocks first -- the things that really matter. Set your
> priorities. The rest is just sand."
>
> One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented.
>
> The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that
> no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of
> beers."
