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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
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
an 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 favourite 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 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."
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