I wanted to share this. It is so much like my outlook on life............
Infinite Wisdom:
> >
> > A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on
the
table
> 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 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 professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of
> course, the sand filled up everything else.
> >
> > He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded
with
> unanimous "Yes."
> >
> > The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table
and
> proceeded to pour their 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 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," he continued "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 check-ups.
> >
> > 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."
> >
> > One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer
> 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 beers