The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much tohandle, 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 hadsome items in front of him. When the class began, hewordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaisejar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He thenasked the students if the jar was full. They agreedthat it was.The professor then picked up a box of pebbles andpoured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.The pebbles rolled into the open areas between thegolf balls. He then asked the students again if thejar was full. They agreed it was.The professor next picked up a box of sand and pouredit into the jar. Of course, the sand filled upeverything else. He asked once more if the jar wasfull. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."The professor then produced two cups of coffee fromunder the table and poured the entire contents intothe jar effectively filling the empty space betweenthe sand. The students laughed."Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "Iwant you to recognize that this jar represents yourlife. The golf balls are the important things--- yourfamily, your health, your friends and your favoritepassions---and if everything else was lost and onlythey remained , your life would still be full.The pebbles are the other things that matter like yourjob, your house and your car.The sand is everything else---the small stuff. "If youput the sand into the jar first," he continued, "thereis no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The samegoes for life. If you spend all your time and energyon the small stuff you will never have room for thethings that are important to you."Pay attention to the things that are critical to yourhappiness. Play with your children. Spend time withyour parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time toget medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner.Play another 18. There will always be time to cleanthe house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golfballs first---the things that really matter. Set yourpriorities. The rest is just sand."One of the students raised her hand and inquired whatthe coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'mglad! you asked.It just goes to show you that no matter how full yourlife may seem, there's always room for a couple ofcups of coffee with a friend."