pnpt2008
June 5th, 2008, 04:46 PM
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 -
> Your God, family, your children, your health, your friends,
> and your 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, 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 partner out to dinner.
>
> 'Play some game or exercise.
>
>
> '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
> cup of coffee with a friend.'
>
> 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 -
> Your God, family, your children, your health, your friends,
> and your 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, 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 partner out to dinner.
>
> 'Play some game or exercise.
>
>
> '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
> cup of coffee with a friend.'
>