The full story:
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24
hours a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the two
cups of coffee.
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 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. 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. {...}
More...
The golf balls are the important things - God, your family, your
children, your health, your friends and your favourite 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. Play
with your children. 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 coffee
represented.
The professor smiled. Im glad you asked. It just goes to show you
that no matter how full your life may seem, theres always room for
a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."