inspiring, No?

ABSTRUSE

Cirque du Freak
Joined
Mar 4, 2003
Posts
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READ THIS!!!!


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 2 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 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.

The professor then 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 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: your God, 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. Play another 18. 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 of cups of coffee with a friend."

Please share this with someone you care about.
I JUST DID.
 
Obviously not!!! :p :D :p

Bahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

The coffee would be a bit gritty, wouldn't it?

On a slightly more serious note: deep stuff, but no doubt insightful. :)

Lou :rose:

P.S. 'Scuse my silly mood. :cathappy:
 
Tatelou said:
Obviously not!!! :p :D :p

Bahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

The coffee would be a bit gritty, wouldn't it?

One a slightly more serious note: deep stuff, but no doubt insightful. :)

Lou :rose:

P.S. 'Scuse my silly mood. :cathappy:

I even forget I posted this...LOL
 
I've read this before and I do love it.

reminds me of a childrens talk a guy at church did when I was oooh about 8 or 9. He had a musical instrument in a case and he made a similar observation.


It really is true....thanks for making me think about the big things Abs :)
 
English Lady said:
...thanks for making me think about the big things Abs :)
Not grateful here. I try to avoid the big picture now. P. :p
 
Most of the time I prefer to think about and concentrate very hard on just one big thing. :devil: :D :p
 
The class should be grateful that he wasn't discussing nihilism that day.

"And this mallet represents the void of death that awaits us all."

Sorry, couldn't resist.
 
Tatelou said:
Most of the time I prefer to think about and concentrate very hard on just one big thing. :devil: :D :p
What a goody-goody twat you are. P.
 
I've also seen this before.
The version I was sent he used stones, pebbles, sand and a bottle of beer.

It's a great philosophy.......the only problem is that everyone has a different idea of what makes up 'the big things' in their life, and those 'big things' change all the time, depending upon circumstances.

Example? Right now, getting settled into a new home....the big things are getting curtains up, finding places to store everything that I want and need to have with me to make me comfortable, working out the heating system in case it breaks down. All the paperwork that creeps out of the wood work when moving home, dealing with banks, utilities, car, driving licence, doctor, dentist, phones..........an endless list of what would be, at another time, trivia, the tiny pebbles, and possibly the sand in my jar. Right now though, they are dirty great rocks!!

When I'm finally happy with the contents or not of my home, then the big things will change to those things they should be......friendships, family, health.....

Mat (waging philosophical.......it must be the brandy)
 
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