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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 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 more
hesitant "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, and your 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. 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," he said.
"It just goes to show you that no matter how
full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of
beers". |
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