keeping things in perspective

Kristen · Post by **Kristen** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 8:23 pm

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some itiems 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 it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly and 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 betweed 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 thing-- your God, your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions(guess) -- Things that is everything else was lost and only they remained, your life wold still be full.
tThe 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 stull, 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 wife to dinner.
Play another 18.
There will always be time to fix the disposal or clean the house.
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 always room for a couple cups of coffee with a friend.

I have no idea who the author is, My cousin sent this to me , she just lost her 38 year old husband to brain cancer. ....Kristen There I just took care of some sand.

Kerri · Post by **Kerri** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 3:35 pm

Hi Kristen

Just as a side issue, was it you the other day on the "Press the Submit Button" thread who said that she carefully checks the submittion for grammar,sense and Spelling......

You must have been in a hurry.

take care

Kerri

Virginia · Post by **Virginia** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 5:08 pm

Kristen,
Thanks for the reminder!! My take on this is it is outside the jar. We tend to trip over the big stuff and eat the sand until it finally dawns on us that the big stuff (golf balls) does have a great value more so than a mouth full of sand.
Virginia

Kristen · Post by **Kristen** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 7:31 pm

Kerri, Yes I did and yes I was and yes I'll fix it. Point taken with a great deal of humility. kristen

Anita · Post by **Anita** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 12:07 pm

Thanks, Kristen, I usually don't care for these kinds of stories that come in off the Internet, and have some "moral" that I'm supposed to see. I do like that one, and got something out of it.