Thursday, May 03, 2012

The Important Things


I read this on Facebo*k. Not sure who wrote it, but I loved it!



The Mayonnaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee

When things in your lives 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 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 an 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--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."






6 comments:

nonnie said...

A,
Gene has used this story and visual in his Marriage and Family classes. He always gets a great response. How true to life this is!
Great pics!
Those little twins are just the cutest things ever! They ALL are!
We leave for NC next Friday! Hope the weather is pretty while we are there.
teresa

His Doorkeeper said...

Great illustration and great truths!
Thank you for sharing this today!

dee said...

Love it! ;-)

Sherry said...

Hi, Nonny from NC! I am also from NC...lived all over it during my 30+ years. It is great seeing a loving grandmother on here. Hope you have a wonderful Friday!

Kelly said...

Your grandchildren are beautiful! And I love the girl outfits in your previous post!!

Wendy's World 82 said...

I love this story. I may have to use it. I'm so glad I came across your blog.