Tami (ajrsmom) shared this with me and I just loved it. I have seen it before but always makes so much sense:
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 Hours in a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of 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 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, family, children, health, friends, and 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, house, and 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.
So... 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.'
I too have read this in the past, but it has so much meaning to it. When I am stressing myself out these words of wisdom can make me stop and re-think my priorities...
__________________ ~Diana~
"My soul shall be joyful in the Lord; it shall rejoice in His salvation"
Thank you so much for reposting this for me, Amanda. I sure wish I'd had it before I got so upset and lashed out on the board.
I do apologize to anyone whose feelings I may have hurt. I didn't mean to and was just feeling sorry for myself. Silly me. But this post will definitely help me for all future situations that may happen in my life.
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Last edited by harleychic; 10-12-2008 at 09:42 AM.
Wow! Those images were supposed to be small in size! I had no idea they'd be so big! But you're worth it Amanda! You may want to get them off the board though in case it slows everybody else's downloads of posts, etc.
There is a book http://don'tsweat.comthat I have read that was very good. I know I still have the book trying to find it again. It was a best seller at one time.
It is true life is stressful but things have a way of straightening out even when we do nothing.
________
Sueanne
__________________ *~*~ The secret to happiness is not to get what you want, but to want what you already have.~ *~*
