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
beer.
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 were 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 again
if the jar were 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 were full. The students responded with an 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 favourite
passions--things that if everything else were 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 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."
