The Mayonnaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee

When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in aday 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 ofhim. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and emptymayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked thestudents 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 thegolf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full.  They agreedit was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Ofcourse, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar wasfull. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table andpoured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty spacebetween the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognizethat this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the importantthings--your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favoritepassions--and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your lifewould still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house andyour car.

The sand is everything else--the small stuff. "If you put the sand into thejar 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 stuffyou will never have room for the things that are important to you.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play withyour children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your  spouse out todinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fixthe 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'salways room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

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