The tale of the mayonnaise jar and the two beers.

Mayonnaise Jar & Two Beers......

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when twenty-four hours in a day are not enough for you, remember the tale of the mayonnaise jar and the two beers.

Once upon a time there was a professor who stood before his philosophy class students, and showed them some items placed 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 some 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 then shook the jar lightly.

The pebbles rolled through 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 carefully into the jar.

Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked one more time if the jar was full....

The students responded with a unanimous 'yes'.

The professor then produced two cans 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 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, your car, etc.

The sand is everything else.... -the small and unimportant stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles, not to mention 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.

Play another round of "crazy eight".

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 cans 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.

Please share this with someone you care about. I JUST DID!

LIFE ISN'T ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORM TO PASS..........

IT'S ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO DANCE IN THE RAIN.