Story: A Mayonnaise Jar and 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 an 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 time to get medical checkups. 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.’
~ Author Unknown
***
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
For it is with these things that happiness & joy will find rest in your soul.
Enjoy your priorities as we go sliding into home plate, celebrating the holidays & the end of the year, crashing with Joy into the New Year.
And enjoy the rest that resides within your soul.
I will see you New Year’s Eve!
{Merry Christmas.}
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This is so important and a great reminder something we all need from time to time. The kids are getting so big — your little one’s clearly are getting their own personalities, and they are coming through in your photos!
love this! i’ve heard it before, but not quite like that! Your boys are so adorable!!! LOVE all 4 of those chubby cheeks
They are getting so big (and cute as ever!). Merry Christmas to you and your family!!
Have I mentioned lately that I love you? I needed this post today. NEEDED IT. I had heard the story about the jar and such before, but what you added to it is what I needed most. Thank you.