Friday, January 31, 2014

Mayonnaise Jar and the 2 Beers

I'm not sure where I got this but wish I'd adopted it about 50 years ago.





"When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers.

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.
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 Beers 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 your spouse out to dinner.
Do something for yourself
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 and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'
The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with a friend."

I did a little research and this was published by Darrell Creswell on March 26, 2010

Sweetie and Bodie did a little posing for me. 




Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.

Larry  

10 comments:

  1. That says it all doesn't it. You can bet I will keep this one.
    Sam

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  2. That's my life right now. But I've always been a tough cookie. This too shall pass. (And can I have chocolate instead of the beer? I like it so much better.)

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  3. Larry, I really like your foggy cover photo... We went over to Pigeon Forge today and then wandered through Cades Cove. The weather has warmed up and the roads were clear. The snow should be gone by tomorrow. Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

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  4. Love it! And I think I've read that before. GO BRONCOS.

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  5. Love the tree filled with moss and foggy header!!! Thanks for the great advice, just what's needed. Now, if you could just stop all this snow again today!

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  6. I love this Larry- great thoughts for anyone. Thanks!

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  7. I am always glad to be reminded of this!

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  8. Very wise words, Larry. Thanks for sharing this.

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  9. Very wise and so true. I often get trapped by the small stuff and let the golf balls in life get lost in the water hazard of life. Good thing I had you for a dad who made sure that if I learned nothing else it's the lesson of the 2 Beers! I love you!

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