Of Rocks and Sand
A philosophy professor stood before his class and
had some items in front of him. When the class began,
wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar
and proceeded to fill it with rocks, 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 students laughed.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured
it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up
everything else.
"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize
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. Play with
your children. time to get medical checkups.
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."
A philosophy professor stood before his class and
had some items in front of him. When the class began,
wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar
and proceeded to fill it with rocks, 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 students laughed.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured
it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up
everything else.
"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize
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. Play with
your children. time to get medical checkups.
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."
Of Rocks and Sand
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