The Mayonnaise Jar

THE MAYONNAISE JAR

WHEN THINGS IN YOUR LIFE SEEM,

ALMOST TOO MUCH TO HANDLE,

WHEN 24 HOURS IN A DAY IS NOT ENOUGH,

REMEMBER THE MAYONNAISE

JAR AND 2 CUPS OF COFFEE.

A PROFESSOR STOOD BEFORE

HIS PHILOSOPHY CLASS

AND HAD SOME ITEMS IN FRONT OF HIM.

WHEN THE CLASS BEGAN, WORDLESSLY,

HE 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 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 - 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 PEBBLES ARE THE OTHER THINGS

THAT MATTER LIKE YOUR JOB, HOUSE, AND 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.

SO...

PAY ATTENTION TO THE THINGS THAT

ARE CRITICAL TO YOUR HAPPINESS.

PLAY WITH YOUR CHILDREN.

TAKE TIME TO GET MEDICAL CHECKUPS.

TAKE YOUR PARTNER OUT TO DINNER.

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.'

PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH OTHER "GOLF BALLS"

I JUST DID......