A Philosophy for Life

[Kitty]

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 glasses of wine...

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 an unanimous 'yes. The professor then produced two glasses of wine from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

His 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; 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 or a good friend out to dinner.

Play another 18. Do one more run down the ski slope. 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 wine 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 glasses of wine with a friend.

[CTNana]

Well ain't that the truth?

CTNana

[Kyt]

Yes but I'd probably fill the jar with wine first and then get miffed when the golf balls cause an overflow

[CTNana]

Not if you drank it quickly enough!

[Kyt]

Now that sounds like a good idea!

[spidge]

It would be a rough red with all that sand.

[Kyt]

ahhh, that's OK, I've had Australian wines before

[CTNana]

Rough wine always reminds me of an Alan Whicker program, where he and a vineyard owner sat on the patio, in the sunset, with a bottle of the best home produced, brought straight up from the cellar.

Whicker toasted, sipped and then said "It doesn't travel well, does it?"

CTNana