butterflyuk

A philosophy teacher was teaching a class. He picked up a large and empty jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked if the jar was full. The class agreed that the jar was full.

The teacher then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. When he shook the jar the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked again if the jar was full. The class agreed again.

The teacher 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”.

Now the teacher poured two glasses of wine in the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

The teacher said “The jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things – your Values, your health, your family, your favourite passions, your pets – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other tings that matter like your friends, your house, your garden, your car.

The sand is everything else, the small stuff.

If you fill up your life with sand first then there is no room for pebbles or the golf balls. Pay attention to the things that make your life rich. Take care of your golf balls and your pebbles first. Set your priorities – the rest is just the sand.

A student asked what the wine represented.

The teacher smiled and said, “I am 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.”

(Pinched from somewhere, can’t remember where, and tweaked.)