Take Care of Your Golf Balls First

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 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 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 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 again asked 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 cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling every 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 - 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 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 holes.  There will always be time to clean the house, and fix the disposal.  Take care of your 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," he said. "It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a cup of coffee with a friend."

As we approach the Holiday Season and start to reflect on the things in our life that really are important, please remember to take care of the golf balls and don't sweat the small stuff!

Door Prize Winners from the November 17th Luncheon N.D. Hopkins of Hopkins Realtors/Builders is the recipient of a door prized donated by the Grand Prairie Food and Clothing Co-op's Mary Ann Hartsell. Juan Millan owner of Los Chilenos is the recipient of a door prize donated by Deborah Hepworth, beauty consultant. Ruben Medina of Texas Trust Credit Union, Bill Moser of Grand Bank of Texas and Ron Bowlin of GEEP all received door prizes donated by Costco's Sonya Lomax Mark Shook with Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites presents a door prize to Mary Ann Hartsell with the Grand Prairie Food and Clothing Co-op. Veronica Hopkins of Hopkins Realtors/Builders and Scott Asher of Metrocrest Home Helpers receive door prizes from Vicki Villarreal, principal at Dubiski High School. Richie Chookittiampol  of Geep and Gail Wills, CPA receive door prizes from Vicki Villarreal, principal at Dubiski High School. Brenda Reuland with American Eurocopter presents a door prize to Mark Shook of Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites

60 Years

Grand Prairie Ace Hardware

31 Years

Watson Management Company

 31 Years

 Traders Village 

25 Years

Gail Wills, CPA

White and Associates

19 Years

Thorne & Thorne Inc., Attorneys

18 Years

Community Assisted

Living GP

 Amigo Mobility Center 

17 Years

Arnold Bros

Dry Cleaning & Laundry

14 Years

Dave's Hi-Way Wrecker

13 Years

 Grand Prairie Ford 

11 Years

First United Methodist

Bill Thorn Realty

8 Years

Compass Bank

 University of Texas Arlington 

6 Years

 Grand Prairie Host Lions Club 

5 Years

 Texas Trust CU Todd Fry 

 Grand Prairie Food & Clothing Co-op 

CareFlight

4 Years

Homes of Mountain Creek

Office Depot

3 Years

SuperShine Car Wash

CSL Plasma

ProDrivers

2 Years

APL Logistics

North Lake College DCCCD

1 Year

Texas Can