|
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 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 a unanimous "yes."
The professor then produced two cans of beer 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, 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, 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.
"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. "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 beers."
|
