Post by PaigesMom on May 22, 2004 8:46:08 GMT -5
The Mayonnaise Jar
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, 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.
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 friends.
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, 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.
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 friends.
Thanks for sharing!!!