Friday, August 8, 2008

Something To Make You Think...






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 hot chocolate
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 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. Spend time with your children.
Spend time with your parents. Visit with
grandparents. 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 hot chocolate represented. The professor smiled
and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'

The hot chocolate just shows you that no matter how full
your life may seem, there's always room for a
couple of cups of hot chocolate with a friend.'

So Dear Friends and family...lets go have Hot Chocolate...or Frozen Mocha's...
Anyone?...

2 comments:

fivecutekids said...

I love this story, thank you for sharing! I am in for the hot chocolate and good conversation.

Lindsey said...

SO TRUE!!! NOTHING MAKES ME HAPPIER THEN SPENDING TIME WITH THE ONES I LOVE.. WHO NEEDS A CLEAN HOUSE??? HA HA. O YEAH I'M YOUR DAUGHTER!! I'M SORRY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. I JUST DON'T HAVE THE CLEAN GENE IN ME MAMA..MAYBE ONE DAY. KEEP ON PRAYING!!!