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. > > > > 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 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 - God, your 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. 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. "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."
