A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front
of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty
mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about 2" in
diameter. 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 rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was
full. They agreed it was. The students laughed.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of
course, the sand filled up everything else. "Now," said the professor, "I
want you to recognize that this is your life.
The rocks are the important things - your family, your partner, your
health, your children - 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, there is no room for the pebbles
or the rocks. The same goes for your 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. Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work,
clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal."
"Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. Set your
priorities. The rest is just sand."