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The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee
When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24
hours in a
day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of
coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in
front of
him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and
empty
mayonnaise jar and proceeded t o 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 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 family, your children, your health, your friends and
your
favorite passions--and 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 lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24
hours in a
day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of
coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in
front of
him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and
empty
mayonnaise jar and proceeded t o 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 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 family, your children, your health, your friends and
your
favorite passions--and 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."