for posting this again . . .
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 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 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 other 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.
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."
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 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 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 other 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.
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."
Oh my goodness! This is awesome! I am sooo going to cut and paste this on my blog and then make a copy to tape to my refrigerator!!! Thanks for sharing!
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