A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items in front
of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a "VERY LARGE" and
empty mayonnaise jar. He proceeded to fill it with rocks, which were
about 2 inches in diameter. He filled the jar to the top!
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They said, "Yes."
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the
jar. They rolled into place, all around the rocks. He shook the jar
lightly. This allowed him to pour more pebbles in, until they were up to
the top of the jar.
He again asked the students if the jar was full. They said, "Yes."
The professor then picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled the spaces between the pebbles. He asked once
more if the jar was full. The students wondered what the right answer
was this time, wondering what else could be poured into the jar.
The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and
proceeded to pour their entire contents into the jar, effectively
filling the empty spaces in the sand. The students mumbled.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to
recognize that this jar represents your life.
The rocks are the
important things -- your family, your partner, your health, and your
children. Things, that 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 rocks! The same goes for your life. If you
spend all of 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 partner
out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house,
give a dinner party and fix the disposal. Take care of the rocks first .
. the things that really matter. . then the pebbles. Set your
priorities. The rest is just sand (the little stuff)!"
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer
represented.
The professor smiled and said, "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 beers."
of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a "VERY LARGE" and
empty mayonnaise jar. He proceeded to fill it with rocks, which were
about 2 inches in diameter. He filled the jar to the top!
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They said, "Yes."
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the
jar. They rolled into place, all around the rocks. He shook the jar
lightly. This allowed him to pour more pebbles in, until they were up to
the top of the jar.
He again asked the students if the jar was full. They said, "Yes."
The professor then picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled the spaces between the pebbles. He asked once
more if the jar was full. The students wondered what the right answer
was this time, wondering what else could be poured into the jar.
The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and
proceeded to pour their entire contents into the jar, effectively
filling the empty spaces in the sand. The students mumbled.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to
recognize that this jar represents your life.
The rocks are the
important things -- your family, your partner, your health, and your
children. Things, that 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 rocks! The same goes for your life. If you
spend all of 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 partner
out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house,
give a dinner party and fix the disposal. Take care of the rocks first .
. the things that really matter. . then the pebbles. Set your
priorities. The rest is just sand (the little stuff)!"
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer
represented.
The professor smiled and said, "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 beers."
Merry Christmas Everyone