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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 coffee...
A professor stood before
his philosophy 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 golf balls. 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 rolled into the open areas between the golf
balls. He then asked 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 with a 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-your
God, your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your
favorite passions-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
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 partner out to dinner. Play another 18
holes. 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."
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