Please try to remember the important things

Two Glasses of Wine

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 glasses of wine...


A professor stood before his philosophy 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 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 a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two glasses of wine 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 recognise that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things; your family,
your children, your health, your friends, and your
favourite 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, 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.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your
happiness.

Play with your children. Take time to get medical
check ups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another
18 holes. 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 enquired what the
wine 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 glasses of wine with
a friend.'