My Kind of Professor

[Studlover (imported)]

My Kind of Professor

A professor stood before his Philosophy 101 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.

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 spaces between the golf balls. 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 agreed with a

unanimous --yes!

The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the

table and proceeded to pour the entire contents in to the jar

effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The

students laughed.

"Now," the professor said, 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 partner, your

health, your children, your friends, your favorite 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, 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

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. Play another 18

holes. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house,

give a dinner party 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 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!!!"