- Joined
- Dec 16, 2004
- Location
- Palm Bay Florida
Mayonnaise Jar and Beers
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 Beers.
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 Beers 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.
'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
Beer represented. The professor smiled and said,
'I'm glad you asked.'
The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life
may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with
a friend.'
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 Beers.
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 Beers 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.
'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
Beer represented. The professor smiled and said,
'I'm glad you asked.'
The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life
may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with
a friend.'
