A philosophy professor stood before his class and had
some items in front of him. When the class began,
wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar
and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about two 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 students laughed.
The professor picked up a box on sand and poured it
into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
"Now" said the professor "I want you to recognise
that this is 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 in the jar first, there is no room for the
pebbles or the rocks.
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 dancing. There will always be time to
go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix
the washing machine. Take care of the rocks first the
things that really matter. Set your priorities. the rest is
just sand
Wished I'd followed this advice more closely in my life.
