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.
>
> 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 glasses of wine 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 favourite 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, 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 tie 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. Spend some time with your friends.
> There will always be time to clean the house and fix the sticking door.
> 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 wine
> 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 glasses of wine with a friend.
