When things in your life seem like too much to handle,
or there are not enough hours in your day, remember the
mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class had some
items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly
picked up a very large 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 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. Spend time with your children. Spend time with
your parents. Visit with grandparents. 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 and said,
"I'm glad you asked."

The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life
may seem, there's always room for a cup of
coffee with a friend."