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Playinghardball

(11,665 posts)
Thu Jan 12, 2012, 04:33 PM Jan 2012

Mayonnaise Jar & Two Beers..

This is a long and interesting read but the last sentence makes it worth the effort especially in my case…and I noticed that is was posted back in 2004...


Mayonnaise Jar & Two Beers..

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers.
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 a unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two Beers 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 Beer represented.
The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'
The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers with a friend.

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Mayonnaise Jar & Two Beers.. (Original Post) Playinghardball Jan 2012 OP
When I heard this gratuitous Jan 2012 #1
thanks for posting SCantiGOP Jan 2012 #2
Thanks! Suich Jan 2012 #3

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
1. When I heard this
Thu Jan 12, 2012, 05:04 PM
Jan 2012

It wasn't quite as detailed, but after pouring in the sand, the students agree that the jar is completely full when the professor pulls out a pitcher of water and pours it in. When he asks what the lesson is, one of the students pipes up, "That, no matter how full your schedule is, there's always room for something else?" Beware of Type A personalities.

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