namelesstavern.net

by **Ciladan** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 9:32 pm

A professor stood before his philosophy class. He had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large 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 filled the open spaces between the golf balls. 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 the spaces between the pebbles. 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, filling the space between the grains of sand, filling the jar to the brim. No question, the jar was, finally, full. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "this jar represents your life."

"The golf balls are the important things: your God, your family, your love, your children, your health, your friends, your passions... things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full."

"The pebbles are 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. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner 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."

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."

by **Tikker** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 9:55 pm

hah, I call bullshit on the story, but it's still a good story~

by **labbats** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 10:38 pm

Try not to fall for the faux wisdom of college professors. They seem like gods when you're 19, but hit the real world for 10 years and they're just hiding from reality.