This came from a friend of mine - normally I don't forward internet chain mail - but this one came to me JUST at the right time and I think it something we all can relate too. I don't want to spoil it with my thoughts but I would be interested to know how it affects you..... so what do you think?
---Begin Email---
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 Beers.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly 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 an unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two Beers 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 family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and 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. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse 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 Beer represented. The professor smiled and said,'I'm glad you asked.'
The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.'
---End Email---
Blog Comments:
Nice little parable: know your priorities--what matters most in life. Make time for the big things that really matter; the lesser things need to get done, but don't get bogged down in them. All too often we try and loose ourselves in the minor and mundane (pebbles and sand) things in life. And never forget the importance of friendship.-SMJ
Monday August 11, 2008 - 10:16pm (PDT)
Wow, what an insightful thing to do - it has certainly got me thinking you need to prioritize things the right way so you don't get ahead of yourself. I suppose, thanks Chloe - I think I needed that.-Leah M.
Tuesday August 12, 2008 - 03:40pm (EST)
I agree with Sissy. What a wonderful parable to help me "keep my eye on the sparrow," as the gospel song says it...-Deedee
Tuesday August 12, 2008 - 01:54am (EDT)
Stephen Covey uses that too in "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" He leaves out the beer though. I like it better with the beer.http://en.wikipedia.orgwiki/The_Seven_Habits_of_Highly_Effective_People
-April B.
Monday August 11, 2008 - 11:01pm (PDT)
Then one of the students raised his hand and said laughing, "But professor...there's still some beer left in the bottles, can I finish those for you?"Not wanting to look silly due to this oversight in his philosophical demonstration the professor replied, "That simply shows that we have to make choices between the important things in life and having a good time. Sometimes we can't enjoy all that life has to offer us."
An incredibly sexy looking transwoman got up from her seat and slowly walked to the front of the room. The professor stared at her gently bobbing ample breasts as she approached him with her hips swaying back and forth and thought, "Ted sure looks a lot better since that Spring break vacation in Thailand."
The student gently reached into the jar and extracted two golf balls with her long slender fingers tipped with pink nails. She took the professor's hand and pressed the wet dripping golf balls into it and squeezed his fingers around them.
She picked up one of the bottles, put her luscious full lips to the top, took a leisurely sensuous sip, and then emptied the remained beer from it and the other beer bottle into the jar.
The professor, glancing furtively at the exposed cleavage of her low cut blouse, stuttered, "And, ahhhh, wha...wha...what's the point you're trying to make here young lady?"
She gently took the tip of his chin in her fingers and moved the side of his head to her mouth and, as she flicked her tongue in it she whispered, "Sometimes all you need to do is remove a couple balls to enjoy all life has to offer you."
She got an A for the course.
-Cyndy Dee Lite
Tuesday August 12, 2008 - 10:13am (EDT)
Cyndy is so naughty! But she does have a point! LOL-Amber Darlene
Tuesday August 12, 2008 - 09:26am (CDT)
Cyndy, your the Shizzzz-nit!!!! I love it!-Chloe
Tuesday August 12, 2008 - 03:27pm (EDT)
I've read this before and thought it to be very profound. I do like Cyndy's ending for it puts a nice twist to it!-Lana Lane
Tuesday August 12, 2008 - 05:18pm (CDT)
Nice Chloe..thanks for posting!-Bob
Tuesday August 12, 2008 - 06:29pm (EDT)
Smiles .... mmm wonder where I've seen this b4Hugs,
-Kelly xx
Thursday August 14, 2008 - 12:44am (BST)
I prefer the big jar, and a couple of cigarettes to have fun one night,like the lady in the picture. I was laughing about it. Nice job in this blog, keep doing this and thanks a lot for share this.
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