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 glasses of
wine...
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.
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 glasses of wine 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
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.
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 wine 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
glasses of wine with a friend."
Please share this with a friend. I JUST DID!
|