My friend sent me this today. Sometimes these cutesy little stories show up in your life at the exact moment you need them... this was one of those times.
Here's the story:
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 Beers. 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 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 a unanimous 'yes.' The professor then produced two
Beers 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---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 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. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your
happiness. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take your
spouse out to dinner. 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 Beer represented. The professor smiled
and said, 'I'm glad you asked.' 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.
Listening to Trevor Hall.
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