A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items
in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise
jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about 2" in
diameter.
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, of course, rolled into the open areas between the
rocks.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full.
They agreed it was. The professor picked up a box of sand and
poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything
else.
"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognise
that this is your life. The rocks are the important things - your
family, your partner, your health, your children - 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, there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. 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 to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical
to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical
check-ups. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be
time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix
the disposal. "Take care of the rocks first - the things
that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
But then... A student then took the jar which the other students
and the professor agreed was full, and proceeded to pour in a
glass of beer. Of course the beer filled the remaining spaces
within the jar making the jar truly full.
|