The Professor and the Jar

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 an 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 space between the grains of sand.

“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
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 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.”