Life Lessons

[Sainter_Dad]

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 a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two mugs of beer 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 beer 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 beer with a friend.

Please share this with someone you care about.

Are the Saints your Golf Balls, pebbles or sand? When we get all worked up on the forum - think on this!

[Armoooo]

Absolutely ripping post mate.

I really like that analogy, it is just fantastic.

I am a uni student atm (actually doing some philosophy) so I don't have too much important things going on in my life so my family, friends, girlfriend, pets and saints would all be golf balls.

I would expect to see the saints transform into pebbles as I get older

[perfectionist]

And there are more stars in the sky than there are grains of sand on earth. Simply marvellous.

Dunno how many golf balls there are, but I bet most of them are hiding in water or bushes.

[Sainter_Dad]

bump - feel it is important today especially!

[Longwayfromhome]

Wonderful. You know you can shi# in one hand and wish in the other and you know what gets full first.
I do.
Don't bandy around the bullshi# today. This was the OPPORTUNITY and we couldn't get the job done.
Don't gloss over it for the club will be better with full disclosure.
Those not up to it. GO.

[walski]

Don't gloss over it for the club will be better with full disclosure.
Those not up to it. GO.

I'm sure that will happen first thing I agree with you today.

[Voyager]

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 a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two mugs of beer 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 beer 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 beer with a friend.

Please share this with someone you care about.

Are the Saints your Golf Balls, pebbles or sand? When we get all worked up on the forum - think on this!

I knew that one but with water instead of beer...where water, for me, would represent work/money that would be my last priority in life but link everything else together.