SET YOUR PRIORITIES

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,

there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend." 




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. 







Regards