Mechanic
September 6th, 2003, 07:08 PM
wisdom . . .
When things in your life seem almost to much to
handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough,
remember the mayonnaise jar........and the beer.
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.
So 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 an 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 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, your
favorite 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 like
your job, your house, 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. Play with your children. Take time to get
medical checkups Take your partner 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.
"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 beers."
When things in your life seem almost to much to
handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough,
remember the mayonnaise jar........and the beer.
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.
So 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 an 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 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, your
favorite 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 like
your job, your house, 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. Play with your children. Take time to get
medical checkups Take your partner 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.
"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 beers."