todays' thought from my sister
A Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of 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 2 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. The golf balls are the important
> > things--God, 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. 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. "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."
