THE MAYONAISE JAR
Students entering a class were intrigued to find a large empty mayonaise jar,
like the ones you'd find in a sandwich shop
sitting on a table in front of the classroom.
When it was time to start the class,
the professor stood by the jar and proceeded to fill it up
with rocks the size and shape of golf balls.
It didn't take long before he could put no more.
He held up the jar and asked the class
if they thought the jar was full.
The class agreed indeed it was.
After putting the jar down,
the professor then took out a bag of pebbles
and poured it into the jar.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the rocks.
The professor shook the jar gently and he was able to fill it to the very top.
Again he asked the class if the jar was full
and once again the class agreed it was.
The professor then took out
a bag of sand and proceeded to pour the entire
bag into the jar, again filling it to the top.
Whenever it looked like the jar was full,
he shook the jar gently settling the sand
to the bottom and more sand would fit.
Eventually he could pour no more.
"Class, is the jar full now?"
Amid chuckles and with some hesitation
the class agreed the jar was definately full now.
The professor then reached down and took out two beers
and poured one bottle at a time into the jar,
until the jar was filled to the rim.
The class loudly announced that the jar was
finally full.
The professor chuckled.
"The jar represents your life.
"The rocks are the really important things in your life
- God, your family, your partner, your health, your children
- things that if everything else were lost and only they remained,
your life would still be full."
"The pebbles are the other things that matter in your life
but of less importance.
Maybe your career or job, your home, your car, your close friends".
"The sand is everything else. The small stuff.
Nothing important."
"Only a few rocks fit in the jar. Choose wisely.
There's only so much room in your life for really important things.
"Order or priority is also important.
If you fill the jar with sand, there is no room for
pebbles or rocks. If you feel it with pebbles
there is only room for sand,
no room for the rocks.
"If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff
you'll never have space or time for the things that are important
to you. You'll always be too full, too crowded.
But never satisfied, never at peace with yourself.
"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children or siblings, visit your family,
worship your God and nurture your soul.
"Take time out to get medical check-ups.
Take your partner out dancing.
Go on vacation with loved ones.
Volunteer your time to help less fortunate ones.
Play another round,
Cook breakfast for a loved one.
Work in a soup kitchen for the homeless.
"Remember there's always room for the sand.
So don't spend one second thinking about it.
It's the small stuff. "
After a few moments of complete silence,
one of the students approached the profesor and asked,
"But what about the beer?".
"Ahhh the beer" the professor chuckled, and his eyes seemed to twinkle.
"I used beer, but any other beverage would had done:
coffee, tea, wine, liquor, water, or a soft-drink"
"No matter how full you think your life is.
No matter how busy you think you are,
there's always room and time to
sit down and share a drink with a loved one."
"(After all, you never know when your jar
or theirs will break.)
The Mayonaise Jar: A metaphore for Life
Author Unknown
(as told by J.E. Nario)
