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 wine...:
A professor stood before his philosophy 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.
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
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 an unanimous "yes".
The professor then produced two glasses of wine 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, "I want you to recognise that this jar
represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things. Your family, your children, your
faith, your health, your friends, and your favourite 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. 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.
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 wine 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
glasses of wine with a friend."
