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The mayonnaise jar and two cups of coffee!

Susielea

Lily
I just wanted to share this!
After health problems recently dealt me a nice back handed slap, a very dear person in my life sent me this. I felt I would share it with you guys, especially now that the busy season approaches.

Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee

When things in your lives 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 an 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--your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favourite 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 filled the jar with sand 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 spouse 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 coffee 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 cups of coffee with a friend."
 
That's lovely, that really spoke to me. Thank you Susie! Sometimes you need a little reminder of what's important in life. :)
 
Thank you for a great analogy. I will add as you get older the golf balls get bigger. You realize the really important things, the things we think we need to exist are more sand and coffee.
 
Glad you liked it!

The bit that hit home with me the most, was making time for the medical check up and if I'd have taken the time to have that cup of coffee with a "Friend" I know I would have got bullied into doing it sooner. To say this forum is keeping me sane at the moment, waiting for results, is an understatement. But hey ho, life goes on!

Just hope it helps other people realise what is really important!

Best wishes to all who read it,
 
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