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, and 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.”
Author UnknownOTHER POST:
IS THAT SO?
TWO PATIENTS
A HEAP OF SKULLS
SOCRATES THREE GOSSIP FILTERS
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