This story was emailed by a friend of mine, Evelyn. This is cool and I have read many different versions of the story. I’m glad that it is sent to me to remind me of the important matters in my life, especially in such current economic situation.
Did it remind you too?
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
cups of coffee.
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 an 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—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.c
‘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 coffee
represented.The professor smiled and said, ‘I’m glad you asked.’
The coffee just shows 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 you care about..
I JUST DID