The Sum of It All

This was shared with me from my husband, who received it from some one else...hope you enjoy it...


LIFE AND A CAN OF BEER


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--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. It just goes

to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always

room for a couple of beers!