For All You Stressed Folk Out There...

[Dynasty]

Now before the flames begin, I recall posting this 2 or 3 years ago here, but cant find it anymore, so dont be surprised if you recognise it from here.

I found myself thinking about this story when I missed a flight home after new year's due to delays and was consequently put in a hotel for 24 hours or so.

It has to be the greatest look on life Ive ever read;

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 pint of beer.

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.

So 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 that 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 a pint of beer from under the table and poured the contents into the jar until it reached the brim, 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 family, your children, your health, your friends,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, 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 round of 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 their hand and inquired what the beer 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 pint.

Now there are some that would argue about what the golf balls and pebbles represent arent quite true to their own beliefs of course, so mix and match as you will.

But I still find it awesome.

 

[Insano]

If you leave the golf balls out, there's more room for beer.

I love the analogy.

 

[hool10]

What if you can't get a job for the past year? It's why I think I got an ulcer now.

 

[The Monkey]

I didn't know mayonnaise came in jars, I've only ever seen it in tubes.

 

[Insano]

 

[Shamrock]

I didn't know mayonnaise came in jars, I've only ever seen it in tubes.

That sounds disgusting. Here in America, we have them jarred.

 

[jverne]

the professor didn't realize that when you fill in the beer the golf balls float out of the jar

 

[Darkside55]

Not if the lid's still on it and he pokes a hole in it to pour the beer in.