something to ponder upon

An empty jar of mayonnaise and 2 cups of coffee

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
2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items
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 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 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 an 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 --- God, 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 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 to you.

'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children. Be forgiving of others. Remember that no
one is perfect.

Do not expect perfection of yourself or others. Take time to get
medical checkups. Take your spouse 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 coffee
represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'

The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may
seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a
friend.'