A professor stood before his Philosophy 101 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.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into
the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, 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 picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of
course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if
the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous - - yes.
The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and
proceeded to pour them 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 partner, your health, your
children, your friends, your 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, your house,
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 your 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 check ups. Take your partner out dancing. Play another 18. There
will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party
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 beer
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 beers!!
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