When things in your lives 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.
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 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 laugh subsided, “I want you to
recognize that this jar represents your life.”
The golf balls are important things for your family, your children,
your health, your friends, and your favorite passions—and if everything
else was lost and only if 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. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse 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
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 cup of coffee with a friend.”
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 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 laugh subsided, “I want you to
recognize that this jar represents your life.”
The golf balls are important things for your family, your children,
your health, your friends, and your favorite passions—and if everything
else was lost and only if 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. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse 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
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 cup of coffee with a friend.”
