Thursday, December 10, 2009
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 children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. 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.
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I love this illustration! All so very true! and yet we do care about the small stuff! More times than not, we really put the small stuff before the big things in life. We should always keep our "golf balls," as our number one priority. Like he said, family and friends will always be there. Always there to get you through. Always be there when you are feeling yuck. Never put the "sand" above the "golf balls." :) Also, I know some of you didn't like the beer part in the story. But the point he made was so dead on. Not that we should always go "drink" with friends. But that there is always room to stop from what you're doing and go hang out with a friend. Go to a movie. Go to dinner. Go to the park. Go shopping. etc. All these nights that you sit at home because you are too lazy to get ready, have nothing to wear, too "tired", have to wake up early, don't know if it'll be worth it, or just don't feel like it, GET UP! Get out there! Our days are limited here! Spend every moment just having FUN! Enjoying life! Cause you will never remember those nights you sat in your pajama's watching tv shows all night, or going to bed "early." There is no telling how many memories you are missing out on! Life's short.. so get off your booty, get all dolled up and get ready for a night you'll never forget! Because with a life full of nights you'll never forget... You will be the person that people will always remember!
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