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 a 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.
My thoughts:
Have you evaluated your balls and beer lately?? (Golf balls, that is!!) Take time to make sure that your priorities are being placed into your jar in the right order. If not, there may not be room for everything. I totally agree that family should be first, then your outside responsibilities, followed by the small stuff. If you place everything in the jar in the appropriate order, there will definitely be room for a couple of drinks with friends. It is something that is so often overlooked when we have so many balls, pebbles and sand to deal with, but at the same time it is so very important to take that time and make the room. I have only come to realize this over the last two years and even more-so over the last month or so. I think of it this way... the golf balls, pebbles and sand, once in the jar, are not going anywhere. The beer however, if left unattended will evaporate and need to be replenished. Don't forget to take the time to replenish and quench the thirst in your life. I look at my mayonnaise jar and am very thankful to S and V for always helping make sure my balls are moist!!
