This kind of doesn't relate...but I think it's a good life lesson to remember about priorities.
The Mayonnaise Jar
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day is not enough; remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of 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 start 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 it 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 - God, family,children, health, friends, and favorite passions Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and 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. So… 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. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the dripping tap. ‘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
Big rocks (as I heard/do the presentation) and coffee! LOVE IT!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading this post! It really makes you think. I recently had a friend fall asleep at the wheel, he had a little boy and friends and family that loved him dearly. He definitely had his golf balls in his jar, with the pebbles and sand around them. I hope to live my life that way so that I do not have any regrets. Interpreting for the deaf is a major part of my pebbles.
ReplyDeleteWow this post really made me step back and take a good look at my priorities. Life as we know it could be over in the blink of an eye and we don't want to be remembered for things we did/didn't do that we could have done to help improve our life and the lives of those around us. And of course, a little coffee thrown into the equation never hurts! :)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this post. I think I liked it the because it is practical. No matter how far you get in life. It doesnt matter who you are or where you are but because of why you are it is always important to reevaluate your priorities and grow. Love this...
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this and really makes you think about your life and what you put before those "golf balls" in your life. I like at the end when you always have room for coffee with friend! I think that this is a neat way to present something silly and different to a class, but then make a life lesson out of it in a way.
ReplyDelete-Caitlin Hill
Reading this post really came at the perfect time for me!! I can't believe how much that post really rings true to my life right now. I have so much going on and sometimes I feel like I'll never have any of it under control. I'm glad that I was able to read this and put things back into the order that they needed to be in! I also think that this kind of story would be a wonderful way to teach your class an important lesson but without lecturing to them.
ReplyDeleteThis was something I most definitely needed to read. I was just thinking about how crazy life was seeming right now and how I didn't even know how to try and fit everything into my schedule. So uselful and practical.
ReplyDeleteThis little story made my day! I love it! I've been at the library since 8am this morning and was just thinking how I have so much to do and that I dont really have time to write a story about my favorite memory about my grandfather to be read at his huge 80th birthday party. But this really made me realize that if i were to take a mear 10 minutes out of my day and write that story for him that It would make him so happy and it would be so much more rewarding then it if i didnt do it and did the 294830493 other things that i need to do.
ReplyDeleteThis is my favorite post by far, so far. I love it! It's so inspirational which i needed right now, been going through a lot of stress and this story is highly appreciated. thank you :]
ReplyDeleteI've heard of this story before. It is always great to hear it again because it reminds me what I need to pay the most attention to. Sometimes it's so easy to get off track and forget about the "big rocks" and it's nice to have something put it back into prospective.
ReplyDeleteI love this story. I needed to read this. It makes me think about what is going on in our lives now and you are never to old to learn! I am glad that you shared your post with us.
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