Mayo Jar and Two Cups of Coffee
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, he wordlessly 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 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 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 family, your children, your health,
your friends and your favorite passions---and 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 spouse 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."
By Mary Lynn Plaisance