Golf balls, marbles, sand and beer.

Post date: Nov 07, 2012 12:25:8 PM

Remember your Mayonnaise Jar ... 

A professor was teaching his philosophy class full of new students.  First he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and filled it to the top with golf balls.

He asked the students "Is the jar full?", the students noddled and agreed it was.

He then picked up a handful of marbles and poured them into the jar, shaking it until the marbles filled the gaps between the golf balls

He asked again "Is the jar full?", the students looked at each other, then noddled and agreed it was.

Next, he picked up a glass of sand and poured that into the jar.  The sand fell between the gaps and leveled off at the top of the jar.

He asked again "Is the jar full NOW?", the students again looked at each other, thought, then noddled and agreed again.

He then took out two cans of beer from under the table and poured these into the jar, with the sand soaking it all up.

 “Now, I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things: your 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 marbles are the other big things that matter: your job, house, car."

"The sand is everything else - the small stuff."

"If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the golf balls or the marbles.  The same goes for your life.  If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important.  Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.  Play with your children.  Take time to get health checkups.  Take your partner out to dinner.  There will always be time to clean the house and do some DIY.  Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter.  Set your priorities based on this - the rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised their hand and inquired about the beer.  The professor smiled and said, “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 beers.”

:-)