THE MAYONNAISE JAR AND 2 CUPS OF COFFEE
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 cups of coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of
him when the class began, he wordlessly 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 cups of coffee 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---God, your family, your children, your health, your friends and your
favorite passions---and 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. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take
time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. 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 coffee
represented. The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad you asked."
"The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem,
There is always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
I wish you where near enough for a cup of Joe…..or two. Perhaps you’ll come
to visit again soon.
[Emailed to me from my friend David]
