Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Priorities

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 glasses of wine...

A professor stood before his philosophy class with several items in front of him.  When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.  He then asked the class 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 and the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.  He then asked the students again if the jar was full.  Again they agreed that it was.

He then picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.  Of course the sand filled the space between the pebbles.  He asked once more if the jar was full.  The students responded with a unanimous "yes".

The professor then produced 2 glasses of wine and poured them into the jar.  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 truly important things: your family, your children, your health, your friends, your favorite passions; things that if everything else were lost and only these things remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are other things that matter like your job, your house, your car.    The sand is everything else - the small stuff.  If you put the sand in 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 time for the things that are important to you and critical to your happiness."

One of the students raised her hand and asked what the wine represented.

"I'm glad you asked," said the professor.  "It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem there is always room for a couple of glasses of wine with a friend.

Cheers!!!


9 comments:

Jack K. said...

Cheers to you too.

I will think of you and wish you well when I have a glass of wine.

The good wishes will go to everyone on my prayer list.

Thanks for sharing a message I have read before. It is still inspiring.

Nik said...

I've seen this before and it's awesome everytime I read it. I love the message. Nice little reminder and cheers backactha.

Rhi said...

This was awesome, thanks for sharing! It's often easy to forget, and this is a great reminder of what life is all about.

Merle said...

Dear Christina ~~ Great post and this is one of the nice stories we get to read on your blog. Glad you enjoyed the jokes, and the Nine Words Women Use. Take care, my friend
Love, Merle.

Leon1234 said...

Wonderful points here...

Fred said...

Cheers to you, too!

Merle said...

Hi again Christina ~~ Glad you liked my ferns and Hoya and the story about the dog. I am going to pass a Butterfly Award on to you later tonight. I hope you will enjoy it. Take care, Love, Merle.

Linda S. Socha said...

Hello Christina

Thanks for the message...a good reminder...
Linda

Peter said...

G'day Christina, a good stort always ends with a couple of glasses of wine doesn't it??
Thank you for your good vibes for Vicki.