A Mayonnaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee

 
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, 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 an 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---God, 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. Play with your 
children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to 
get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18 holes.

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.