THE MAYONNAISE JAR AND COFFEE
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 coffee...
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.
So 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
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
in the jar. 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 - your God, 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."
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 18 August 2007)
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