Not mine, but I thought it was a pretty decent analogy
Because we should all stop and think about life every once in awhile...
THE MAYONNAISE JAR AND 2 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, 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. 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 laughter subsided, "I want you to
recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the
important things -- your faith, family,
your children, your health, your friends, and 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,
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 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 reall y 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."
THE MAYONNAISE JAR AND 2 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, 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. 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 laughter subsided, "I want you to
recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the
important things -- your faith, family,
your children, your health, your friends, and 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,
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 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 reall y 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."