The Mayonnaise Jar

When things in your life seem almost too much to
handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough,
remember the mayonnaise jar...

A professor stood before his philosophy class

andhad 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 a unanimous

"yes."

The professor then produced two bottles 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 God, 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 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 with a friend."