THE MAYONNAISE JAR AND COFFEE

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 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 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."