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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 that 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--God, 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. Play with your children. 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. "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." |
| | Posted 6/25/2005 2:40 PM - 38 Views - 2 eProps - 1 Comment
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