JenBKR
08-18-2005, 03:14 PM
Here's another email I thought I'd share. This really puts things into perspective...
***********************************************
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, so 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 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 cans of beer 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, your favorite passions--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,
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. 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 beer 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 beers."
***********************************************
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, so 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 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 cans of beer 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, your favorite passions--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,
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. 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 beer 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 beers."