The Rest is Just Sand!

A professor stood before his philosophy 101 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 golfballs. 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, of course, rolled into the open areas between the golfballs. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up the remaining space in the jar. He then asked once more 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 proceeded to pour the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed curiously.Now, said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golfballs are the important things - your family, your partner, 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 golfballs. The same goes for your life. If you spend all of 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 dancing. Play another 18 holes. There will always be time for me to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party, and fix the disposal.""Take care of the golfballs first - the things that REALLY matter. Set your priorities. THE REST IS JUST SAND."One of the students raised her hand and asked "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!"