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

[Bill Effros]

Nice, Philip,

What are you up to?

Bill Effros

Philip wrote:
> 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."
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