greeneyedlady
10-06-2004, 9:17 AM
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
>> golfballs. 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 cups of coffee 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 - God, your family, your children, your health, your
>> friends, and 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,
>> 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. 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 coffee
>> 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 cups of coffee with a friend."
>> front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very
>> large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with
>> golfballs. 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 cups of coffee 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 - God, your family, your children, your health, your
>> friends, and 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,
>> 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. 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 coffee
>> 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 cups of coffee with a friend."