Emotional Story – A philosophy professor

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 inches 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 a unanimous
“Yes.”
“Now,” said the professor, “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 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.”