A Jar and Two Beers...

Happy Saturday, my friends! Below is an oldie but goodie
you may or may not have read. If you have read this before,
it is worth re-reading. I did a search and could not find its
author. If anyone knows, please let me know. And please
remember this tale when things in your life seem almost too
much to handle and when it feels like 24 hours in a day are
not enough. Sending out joy... Val =)

Mayonnaise Jar and Two Beers

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 a unanimous "yes".

The professor then produced two beers 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."

"Spend time with your children."

"Spend time with your parents."

"Visit with grandparents."

"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 beer represented.

The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad you asked."

"The beer just shows you that no matter how full your life

may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers with

a friend!"

- Author Unknown