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 again the students again
if the 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 w/ a unanimous
"yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee
from under the table & 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 u to recognize that this jar represents your life. The
golf balls are the important things---
God, your family, your children, your health, your friends & 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 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's 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'll 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. Spend time w/your parents.
Visit with grandparents. 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 & 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."
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 again the students again
if the 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 w/ a unanimous
"yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee
from under the table & 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 u to recognize that this jar represents your life. The
golf balls are the important things---
God, your family, your children, your health, your friends & 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 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's 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'll 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. Spend time w/your parents.
Visit with grandparents. 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 & 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."
