Philosophy of Jar/Beers

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 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 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.