HI folks,
When things in your lives 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--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. 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. "I'm glad you asked.
It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, here's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
Please share this with someone you care about.
2007-06-07 02:08:31 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
This is nothing more than a nice way at looking at life it dosnt matter how many golf balls you have just thast you keep them the most important things in your life!
2007-06-07 08:47:25 · update #1
always nice to see this pop up every now and then, Thanks for this always makes me smile
2007-06-07 08:05:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You would admit that it takes some shaking to get all things settled in their right places in a balanced and working life; durations of testing times may precede before some finer adjustments within the jar are accomplished. And sometimes, shaking stage goes on and on and on … then, how much of a shaking a normal jar of life could stand?
And then it always takes time for the finer, or smaller, contents to get to the bottom of the jar. Until then, there are always things that are most important in my life, things that are very personal to me, things that I cannot dispense with anyway. I see that people often do not take notice of what goes on outside the happy confines of their own lives. They do not bother to give room to thoughts and concerns for, may be a little, wider world around them. If not all, then there are many people who seldom pay any notice to things beyond their immediate interests. There are always family priorities in front. There are always favours extended into the real world around. People change when they leave their home in the morning; they assume roles and wears masks. Then who cares for the people whose jars could be almost empty of even the very basic things, the golf balls.
An exciting analogy to life, which I have tried to shake and prolong it a little ... just in order to bring home the fact that nothing in the world can fully exemplify a real life, its toils and troubles running alongside joys and delights of living
2007-06-07 04:16:41 · answer #2 · answered by Shahid 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The purpose of life is to enjoy no matter how many rocks, golf balls, or how much sand you have. If you have one grain of sand, one pebble, and one golf ball, enjoy what you have instead of what you have not.
2007-06-07 02:17:51 · answer #3 · answered by mim 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is so true, maybe I should keep a copy just to read when I'm feeling depressed or worried,it really puts life into perspective! . My friends will love it!
2007-06-07 04:06:17 · answer #4 · answered by clara 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I loved your story!
The only problem is: I'm not always so sure about what are golf balls of my life ...
2007-06-07 04:41:42 · answer #5 · answered by tricky 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
was it a question or an abstract... ? Never mind... things are not that simple... even if you think you truly understand..you are wrong... life itself is far more beyond our imagination.
2007-06-07 23:47:58 · answer #6 · answered by leomcholwer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's all very well, but I'd be happier if people didn't keep pissing in my empty jar.
2007-06-07 02:30:04 · answer #7 · answered by I'm Sparticus 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Nice. Can I drink tea instead?
2007-06-07 02:14:45 · answer #8 · answered by mkultra 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Very touching.
2007-06-07 12:59:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've read this little story before, but this has been a timely reminder - many thanks! (And I know some people I shall pass it to!).
2007-06-07 02:18:44 · answer #10 · answered by uknative 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋