Some Perspective
My sister sent this to me in an email. She didn't write it, but it's some nice words for us to help keep some perspective.
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours
in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar...and the 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 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 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-your God, family, your children, your health,
your friends, and your favorite passions 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 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. Play
with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out
to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house
and fix the disposal."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."
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours
in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar...and the 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 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 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-your God, family, your children, your health,
your friends, and your favorite passions 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 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. Play
with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out
to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house
and fix the disposal."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."
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home