>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 coffee...

>

>A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, 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

>

>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 cups of coffee 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 God, family, your children, your health, your friends,

>and 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, 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. Pay attention to the things that are

>critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get

>medical checkups. Take your wife out to dinner. Maybe even play another 18. There's

>always 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 coffee

>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 cups

>of coffee with a friend."

>

>Please share this with someone you care about.