A fellow blogging friend e-mailed me this anonymous story. I have come across it before, but It is so worthwhile and appropriate, especially at this time of the year, I decided to post it onto the blog to share with all of you! Thank you my friend for sharing this thought provoking story.
A Professor quietly stood in front of his class while he had some things on his desktop. To start the class, He took large glass jar which was empty and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He broke his silence, asking students if the jar was full. Without exception, all of the students nodded.
The teacher then took a box with glass marbles and poured them between the golf balls which had earlier been put in the jug. The Professor shook the jug gently and the marbles trickled to the spaces that remained between the golf balls. Again, the Professor asked his students if the jar was full. Surprised students responded with a unanimous “Yes”.
The teacher took a small box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled the space that was left in the jug. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded loudly in unison, “Yes”.
The Professor pulled out two beer bottles from under his desk and poured them fully into the glass jar, filling the space between the sand. The students laughed.
“Now”, said the Professor as the laughter dwindled, “I want you to think that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things – your family, children, health, friends and your passions.
“If you lose everything and only these important things remain, your life would still be full and plenty. The marbles represent the other things that matter like your work, your home and your car. The sand is everything else, the rest.”
“If you put the sand first within the empty jar”, he continued,”You will never have more room for the marbles or golf balls. The same happens in your life.”
“If you spend all your time and energy on the small things, you’ll never have room for the things that are really important”.
“Always pay attention to the things that are really important to be happy. To spend time with your children. To spend time with your parents. To visit your grandparents. Go out to dinner with your wife. Enjoy another family party. There will always be time later to clean the house and mowing the lawn”.
“Always worry about the golf balls first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand”.
Once the teacher had finished, one of the students raised his hand and asked what the beer represented. The Professor smiled and said, “it is good that you asked.
“The beer just shows that no matter how full of things your life may look, there is always time to share a couple of beers with a friend”.
A very timely reminder for me I think. Thanks for sharing this. 🙂
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😀 😀
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A lovely thought any time of year. Thanks for sharing
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Glad you liked it Kayti! ❤
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got here via Christine’s blog. some good reminders here! thanks for sharing.
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Great to have you visit pix & kardz! 🙂
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This was a great refresher of a version that I lost to a computer crash on an old PC. Thanks ever so much for the new and improved version. I too fall into the work too much category, and I have to always remind myself of that on my death bed I am not going to say “Gee, I wish I would have spent more time at the office”. We all need to be reminded that the bills have to be paid but there is more to life than all that sand (in your shoes) ❤
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So pleased you enjoyed it, again! 🙂
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That’s great, I remember something similar from years ago, nice to get a reminder, it’s so true.
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Yes, after reading this I keep thinking of more! An amazing word! Thanks for your visit!
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I’ve read this before as well, but it bears repeating. Love this one. ❤
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Thanks, nothing is new is it? Just enjoy language and its complexities. 🙂
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Sigh. Nothing is new. I agree Ienjoy language and its complexities as well. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Christine R and commented:
Sharing this lovely tale over at Barbara’s blog …
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Thanks Christine for your reblog! 🙂
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The world needs more teachers like this. Fortunately, Barbara, you are one of them! Thanks for this reminder. I need to have a beer with a friend.
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Cheers Steve, to your good health! 🙂
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I have heard a version of this adapted for the writer who never gets to do the writing because of the cleaning, ironing, shopping, cooking… which of course can fill the jar quite easily, but this is a much better version. We need to read it at least once a year (maybe once a week).
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Hilary, I like the sound of the other one too. It’s so easy to skew things and lose time doing inessential things. ❤
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My pleasure Barbara, so pleased you found it helpful! ❤
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Wow! This is a marvelous story. Love it.
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It does make one stop and think what is important, and that is good! ❤
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Thanks for sharing! When I heard this story first, I realized that it was true. But, now on reading it again, I have realized that different people prioritize their golf balls differently. For some going to a party with family is more important. While for others, working overtime is more important.
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I think Christmas can be a very difficult time for many, especially men! So hopefully it might help someone consider what is important. Working overtime can be a cop out, don’t you think?
I do like your comment as we are all different. ❤
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It could…but it is situation-dependent. With inflation, a lot people have to work hard to afford the necessities. I do agree though that family is very important, personally. And yes thank god that we all are different 🙂
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My children fall into the overwork lot, and I find it sad for the children. But diversity makes for a richer community!
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I, for one, am in constant need of these reinforcements, Barbara! Thanks for posting.
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