THE
MAYONNAISE JAR
----------------------
When
things in your life seem almost too much to handle, When
24 hours in a day is not enough; remember the mayonnaise
jar and 2 cups of 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 start
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 it
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, children,
health, friends, and favorite passions Things that if everything
else was lost and only they remained, your life would still
be full.
The
pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house,
and 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.
So...
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. There will always be time
to clean the house and fix the dripping tap.
'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.'