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 everything else.
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, 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 and fix the disposal.
Take care
of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The
rest is just sand.”
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