The Mayonnaise Jar

A professor stood before his philosophy class with some items in front of him. When class began, he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and filled it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured it into the jar. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He 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. The sand filled the rest of the space, and 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. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, "this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--God, family, children, health, friends, and favorite passions--things that if everything else were lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else: the small stuff.

"If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or 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. So 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 dripping tap. 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 asked what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It 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."