MAYONNAISE JAR AND COFFEE
====================================
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 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, 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 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."
====================================
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 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, 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 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."
