I had this emailed to me as a jokey thing and just thought I’d share it as it is quite poignant… and too good not to share:
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 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 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 in 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 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 recognise 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; and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would be full.’
‘Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness:
- Spend time with your children
- Spend time with your parents
- Visit with grandparents
- Take time to get medical checkups
- Take your spouse out to dinner
- Play another 18.’
The professor continued ‘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.’ ‘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 and goals. The rest is just sand.’
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, ‘I’m glad you did.’
‘The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.’
Please share this with someone you care about… I JUST DID
