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 resounding "yes."
2007-01-23 00:35:06 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
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 family, your children, your faith, your health, your friends, and your favourite 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
2007-01-23 00:35:50 · update #1
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."
2007-01-23 00:36:45 · update #2
sure. but what about the interstitial space on the atomic and subatomic levels? they can't be filled, but they do exists so there is a lot of space in the jar but it is full. this is a bit of a conundrum to me.. want to get a cup of coffee?
2007-01-23 00:55:18 · answer #1 · answered by Sam E 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Slightly.
2007-01-23 08:40:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes, the prof is being smart.
2007-01-23 08:42:00 · answer #3 · answered by pretty winter snow 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
clever but loooonnnnggg.
2007-01-23 08:40:41 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Very profound!!!! I like it!!!
2007-01-23 08:41:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋