Rocks: a meaning for life.
A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in
front
of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty
mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about 2 inches
in
diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed
that
it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them
into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled
into
the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the
jar was full. They agreed it was. The students laughed. The professor
picked
up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled
up
everything else.
"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognise that this is your
life.
The rocks are the important things - your family, your partner, your
health, your children - things that if everything else was lost and only
they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are theother
things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is
everything else. The small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar
first,
there is no room for the pebble or the rocks. 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 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 dancing. There will
always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and
fix
the disposal. Take care of the rocks first - the things that really
matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
But then ... A student then took the jar which the other students and the
professor agreed was full, and proceeded to pour in a glass of beer. Of
course the beer filled the remaining spaces within the jar making the jar
truly full. Which proves: that no matter how full your life is, there
is
always room for a beer. |
