The mayonnaise jar and two cups of 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 two cups of coffee

once a professor stood before his philosphy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a veruy large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with snooker balls. he then asked the students if the jar was full


THEY AGREED 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 snooker 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 took out 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 laughter subsided. "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things-your family, your spouse, your children, your health, your friends and your favourite passions-and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full

The pebbles are other things that matter like your job your car, your house.

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 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 important to your happiness. Play with your children. take time to get medical chekups. 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 priorties. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said "I am glad you asked. It just goes to show that no matter how full you life may seem, there is always room for a cup of coffee with a friend."