golfballs

[dodgymix]

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 the beer.
>
>
>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.
>
>
>So 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 cans of beer 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,
>your favorite passions - good 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, your house,
>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 partner 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. "I'm glad you asked," he said. "It just goes to show
>you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a
>couple of beers."
>