Philosophy class

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, 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 family, the love of your life, your children or pets, 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 details like your job, your house, and your car. They matter, but they are replaceable, and they will never fill your jar." The sand is everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the sand or the pebbles into the jar first," he continued, "there will be no room left for 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. If you put the small stuff first, one day you will look back and realise it is too late to add the important stuff because your jar is full." "Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children and pets. Take time to get a medical checkup and have a holiday. Spend time with the ones you love. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18 holes. There will always be time to clean the house, there will always be time to work. The small stuff can always be added later. The important stuff cannot. 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. No matter where you are, or how busy you seem to be, there is always time to tell someone you love them." When things in your lives 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. I'm passing this on, to show the people I love that no matter how busy I am, I will always make time for the ones I love.