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When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the empty mayonnaise jar...
A professor stood before his college philosophy class with some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large, 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, but it easily fit. He asked once more if the jar was now full. The students responded with and astonished, but unanimous, "yes".
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents slowly into the jar, this time effectively filling even the empty space between the sand. The students laughed in amazement.
"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 -- a personal relationship with God, your devotion to your family and friends, taking care of your health, and your great passions in life.. things that if everything was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full and happy."
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else-- the small, less significant stuff, but sadly, its often the stuff we let take over our lives. Take note of the fact that if I had put the sand into the jar first, there would have been no room for the pebbles or golf balls and the same goes for our lives. If you spend all your time and energy and make the small stuff your priority, you will never have room for things that make life worth living.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Simplify your life.. love GOd passionately and whole-heartedly, tell your family and friends that you love them, take care of your body, take a trip, play with your children and grandchildren, go out to dinner, take a walk on the beach, play another 18 holes and remember to live a life of gratitude.
There will always be time to clean the house, get new tires or fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls f life first.. they are the things that really matter. Set your priorities. Don't waste your time on the daily stresses of the "sand" in your life. It carries way too high of a price.
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "i'm glad you asked. I added that just 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.."
A professor stood before his college philosophy class with some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large, 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, but it easily fit. He asked once more if the jar was now full. The students responded with and astonished, but unanimous, "yes".
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents slowly into the jar, this time effectively filling even the empty space between the sand. The students laughed in amazement.
"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 -- a personal relationship with God, your devotion to your family and friends, taking care of your health, and your great passions in life.. things that if everything was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full and happy."
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else-- the small, less significant stuff, but sadly, its often the stuff we let take over our lives. Take note of the fact that if I had put the sand into the jar first, there would have been no room for the pebbles or golf balls and the same goes for our lives. If you spend all your time and energy and make the small stuff your priority, you will never have room for things that make life worth living.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Simplify your life.. love GOd passionately and whole-heartedly, tell your family and friends that you love them, take care of your body, take a trip, play with your children and grandchildren, go out to dinner, take a walk on the beach, play another 18 holes and remember to live a life of gratitude.
There will always be time to clean the house, get new tires or fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls f life first.. they are the things that really matter. Set your priorities. Don't waste your time on the daily stresses of the "sand" in your life. It carries way too high of a price.
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "i'm glad you asked. I added that just 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.."
