THE MAYONNAISE JAR
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle,
when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the following mayonnaise jar
story.
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 a unanimous 'yes.'
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 a unanimous 'yes.'
The professor
then produced two Beers 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.
Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand!
'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.
Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand!
