A philosophy professor
stood before his class with some items on the table 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 rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.
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, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.
He then asked the
students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor picked up
a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up the
remaining open areas of the jar.
He then asked once more
if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.”
“Now,” said the
professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The
rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your
children – 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
rocks. The same goes for your 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 your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go
to work, clean the house, give a dinner party, or fix the disposal.”
“Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”
- UNKNOWN AUTHER
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