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 theory...
A professor stood before his philosophy class with some items on his desk 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 recognize
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, you will never have room for the good
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 to dinner.
Play another 18 holes. Do one more run down the ski slope. 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 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."
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Lynne
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