Mayonnaise Jar & Two Beers...

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 2 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 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.

now that's my kind of story................nice one Vulcan, gonna copy and share that one. Always time for a beer !!!

awesome story! I agree, life is too short to not pay attention to what matters most! But it is also too short to NOT stop and take time to enjoy it!!!!

Great post thanks for reminding me just how full my life really is

 Yes,  with all of the above and I'll try to keep it in mind. Thanks.

Very interesting twist.

With that perspective we have effectively removed the one thing in life that we all need to live, hmmmmmm.

Darn good analogy, and even better philosophy. 90% of what we worry about, never happens. (Huh, ladies?) And if we're so busy "micro-managing" every daggone detail, some pretty "big" stuff, gets neglected. It took me far too long to realize, that if I didn't slow down, and smell the roses, the only roses would be on my casket. And I won't be smellin' those...

Take time to enjoy what (insert "higher power" here) you've been given. Before ya wish that you had...
Trust me, regret sucks.

Ride Free
Tweek

the best part was the beer....I do enjoy a few beers with my friends when i see them. The rest can take care of itself now.