[Rhodes22-list] A mayonnaise jar, some golf balls, some sand and two cups of coffee

[Philip]

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a
day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar, the golf balls, the sand
and the two 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 God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your
favourite 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 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."