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A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with stones about 2” in diameter.
He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed it was. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.]He than asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous yes.
The professor then produced two cans of beer fom under the table and proceeded to pour their 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 rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, you life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your care. 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 rocks. The same goes for your 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 dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and mow the lawn. “Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”
Once of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked that. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of beers.”
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