Living in Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia is conducive to a peaceful, slower pace of life. The lake, the beautiful countryside, and the pleasant community are all part of a lovely package that inspires the spirit. Nevertheless, we all get our priorities out of whack from time to time. This story is a great analogy and reminder of what should come first.
A professor stood before his philosophy class with several odd items in front of him. When the class began, without a word he picked up a super-sized empty mayonnaise jar and started filling 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 small stones and 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. Though warier now, they still thought it was full.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up the tiny open spaces. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students answered a confident yes.
The professor then produced two cups of tea from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling everything that was left of any space in the jar. The students laughed this time.
At this point, the Professor told the class the point of his demonstration. I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life, he said.
The golf balls are the important things – God, family, friends, and health. These are the things that make your life meaningful and rich. If everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the things that are secondary in importance such as your job, your home, and your goals and dreams. These things matter, but life would go on without them.
The sand is everything else — The small stuff.
‘If I had put the sand into the jar first,’ he continued, ‘there would have been no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for your life.
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, You will never have room for the things that are the most important. Then someday when you lose the golf balls, you will be devastated as you realize how you squandered precious time.
So…
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children.
Make healthy food choices.
Take your mate out to dinner.
There will always be time to clean the house, go to work, exercise, and watch TV.
‘Take care of the golf balls first — The things that matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.’
Then a girl in the class raised her hand and
asked what the tea stood for.
The Professor smiled and said he was glad
she had asked.
The tea is to remind us that no matter how
busy we are, there is always time for a drink
and a chat with our friends.
