Gathering Golf Balls

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 cups of coffee.

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 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---God, 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.
Play 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 coffee
represented. The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad you asked.
"The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life
may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee
with a friend."

~~Author Unknown~~

Good philosophy!

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