When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some
items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly
picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled
into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the
students again if the was jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into
the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He
asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded
with an unanimous "Yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured 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 golf
balls are the important things--- God, your family, your
children, your health, your friends, and your favorite
passions--- and if everything else was lost and only they
remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter-- 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 golf balls. The same goes for 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 spouse out to dinner. Play another 18.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the
disposal. Take care of the golf balls 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
coffee 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 cups of coffee with
a friend."
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some
items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly
picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled
into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the
students again if the was jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into
the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He
asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded
with an unanimous "Yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured 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 golf
balls are the important things--- God, your family, your
children, your health, your friends, and your favorite
passions--- and if everything else was lost and only they
remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter-- 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 golf balls. The same goes for 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 spouse out to dinner. Play another 18.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the
disposal. Take care of the golf balls 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
coffee 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 cups of coffee with
a friend."
