The Jam Jar and The Coffee…
The Jam Jar and the coffee…
When things in your life seems overwhelming – when 24 hours per day just isn’t sufficient, when remember the Jam Jar and The coffe….
A professor was standing in front of his philosophy class with some items in front of him. When class started he brought out , without saying a word, a very big and empty Jam jar and started to fill it with golf balls.
When he had done that, he asked the class if the jar was full and they all agreed that it was now full.
Then the professor pulled out a box of pebbles and began to pour them into the jar.
He shaked the jar gently so the pebbles spreaded between the golf balls. Afterwards he then asked the class again if the jar was now full. The class agreed that it was now full.
After this the professor brought out a box of sand and started to pour it into the jar. The sand filled out the remaining cavities in the jar.
Again he asked the class if the jar was now full. The class answered unanimously “YES”.
The professor then made two cups of coffee and poured it into the jar.
Which effectively filled out the cavities between the grains of sand.
The students laughed……
“Alright” said the professor, when the laughter calmed down.
“ Now imagine that this jar represent your life. The golf balls are the important things – your family, partner, children, health, friends and favorite passions – the things that even though all other things in your life got lost and only these things were left – still would make your life complete. The pebbles are the other things, that matters – such as job, house, car etc. The sand is all the other little things.”
The Professor went on “ If you pour the sand into the jar first, there will be no room for all the golf balls nor the pebbles.
The same applies in life. If you spend all your energy and time on the little insignificant things, you will never have room for the things, that are the most important for you.
Pay attention on the things , that are critical for your happiness. Play with your children, take take of your health, invite your partner out to a dinner. Take another round at the golf course.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the drains. Take care of the golf balls first – the things that really matters. Get control of the priorities – the rest is nothing but sand.”
One of the students raised his hand and asked what the coffee represented.
The professor smiled ”I am glad you are asking. It is just to show you that no matter how full your life seems to be, there is always room for a cup of coffee with a friend.
Wise words if you ask me – what do you think ?
Regards
Tina Lindgren
