A Mayonnaise Jar and Two Beers A professor stood before his philosophy class with 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, poured them into the jar, and shook the jar lightly. The pebbles settled 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 a unanimous ‘yes.’ The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty spaces between the sand. The students laughed. As the laughter subsided, the professor explained how the jar represented their lives: 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 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, 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 truly important. So pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children, your parents, and your brothers and sisters. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical check-ups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Take a little time for yourself every now and then. 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, because the rest is just sand. One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor responded, “The beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of beers with a friend.”
Posted on: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 18:01:53 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015