The Mayonnaise Jar & Beer
>
> When things in your life seem almost to much to handle, when 24 hours
> in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar........and the beer.
>
> A Professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items 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 golf balls. 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 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 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," 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, your favorite passions--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
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. 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."
> Free your heart from hatred
> Free your mind from worries
> Live simply
> Give more
> Expect less
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