Mayonnaise Jar & Two
Beers...
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.
Please share this with someone you care about. I
JUST DID!
LIFE ISN'T ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORM TO PASS...
...IT'S LEARNING HOW TO DANCE IN THE RAIN