Mayonnaise Jar

My mother sent this to me and I thought it was worth posting on the blog.  I really like the message it gives....

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 start 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 it 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 an 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 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 - God, Family,
Children, Health, Friends, and favorite passions.Things that if everything else was 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,' 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. 
So...
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 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 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 of cups of coffee with a friend.