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 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 infamous
"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. 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. 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 shed door. 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."
Please share this with someone nice.
I Just did.
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 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 infamous
"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. 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. 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 shed door. 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."
Please share this with someone nice.
I Just did.
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