A philosophy professor stood before his class and, When the lesson began, wordlessly picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks about 2" in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor picked up a box of pebbles, poured them into the jar and shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He again asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
Next, the professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. The students laughed.
"Now", said the professor, "I want you to recognise 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 and the happiness ofthose around you. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups and donate some blood. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and put the shelves up".
"Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand".
But then...
A student took the jar which the other students and the professor had agreed was full, and proceeded to pour in a glass of beer. Of course the beer filled the last remaining spaces within the jar making it truly full.
The moral of this tale is: No matter how full your life is, there's always room for beer!