The Important Things in Life....

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.”