I’m in my mid-50’s; have spent most of my life in the upper Midwest of the U.S. Most of my working life has been spent in sales and business management pursuits. I retired at an early (by some standards) age, and am mapping out the next few years of adventure with my life-partner/wife.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in
front of him. Wordlessly, as the class began, 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. So 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.
So 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 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 health, your
children, your friends, 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,
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 couple
of beers.”
