THE JAR AND THE COFFEE

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in aday are not enough, remember the jar... and the coffee...

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front ofhim. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students ifthe 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 agreed it 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 jarwas full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor thenproduced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entirecontents 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 torecognise that this jar represents your life.The golf balls are the important things, your family, your children, yourfaith, your health, your friends, and your favourite passions.

The Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life wouldstill be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter. Your job, yourhouse, 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 forthe pebbles or the golf balls.

The same goes for life. If you spend all yourtime and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the thingsthat 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 partner out todinner. Play another round of golf. There will always be time to clean thehouse and wash the car.

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 representedThe professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show You that nomatter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cupsof coffee with a friend."