Life with a Jar and a Cup of Coffee

When life seems too much to handle, just remember two things 

"A jar and two cups of coffee." 

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 jar

and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and pour it into

the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked

once more if the jar was full.

The students answered with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the

table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively

filling the space between the grains of 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-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 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.

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

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 cups of coffee with a friend.'