Mayonnaise Jar and a couple of Beers

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar... and a couple of beers.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They all agreed it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar slightly. The pebbles rolled in all of the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They all 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 cans of beer from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now" the professor said, 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-- things that if everything was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full."

"The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, car. The sand is everything else-- the small stuff."

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued "there isn't room for the pebbles or 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 check-ups. Take your partner to dinner. Play another 18 holes." (My personal favorite)

There will always be time to clean the house, and fix the disposal. "Take care of the golf balls first, things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer 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 beers."