Guest guest Posted March 3, 2008 Report Share Posted March 3, 2008 TAKE TIME FOR THAT REALLY MATTERS ”The family tree bloomed. Branches spread out, in due course flourished and bore fruit with sons and daughters.” – Shri Sai Samarth Satcharita, Ch. 14, Ovi 197. A philosophy professor stood before his 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 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".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 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 tap. 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." ( e ) Never miss a thing. Make your homepage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 Sairam. Excellent anectode.I liked it very much. Best Regards,K.s.Vishwanathan.Tel No: 022-28738192 - swamy mahadevan Monday, March 03, 2008 6:38 PM TAKE TIME FOR THAT REALLY MATTERS TAKE TIME FOR THAT REALLY MATTERS ”The family tree bloomed. Branches spread out, indue course flourished and bore fruit with sons anddaughters.” – Shri Sai Samarth Satcharita, Ch. 14, Ovi197. A philosophy professor stood before his class andhad some items in front of him. When the class began,wordlessly he picked up a very large and emptymayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks,about 2 inches in diameter. He then asked the studentsif the jar was full. They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles andpoured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areasbetween the rocks. He then asked the students again ifthe jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured itinto the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everythingelse. He then asked once more if the jar was full. Thestudents responded with a unanimous "yes". The professor then produced two cans of beer fromunder the table and proceeded to pour their entirecontents into the jar - effectively filling the emptyspace between the sand. The students laughed. "Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided,"I want you to recognize that this jar represents yourlife. The rocks are the important things - yourfamily, your partner, your health, your children -things that if everything else was lost and only theyremained, your life would still be full. The pebblesare the other things that matter like your job, yourhouse, your car. The sand is everything else. Thesmall stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," hecontinued, "there is no room for the pebbles or therocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend allyour time and energy on the small stuff, you willnever have room for the things that are important toyou. Pay attention to the things that are critical toyour happiness. Play with your children. Take time toget medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing.There will always be time to go to work, clean thehouse, give a dinner party and fix the tap. Take careof the rocks first, the things that really matter. Setyour priorities. The rest is just sand." One of the students raised her hand and inquired whatthe beer represented. The professor smiled. "I'm gladyou asked. It just goes to show you that no matter howfull your life may seem, there's always room for acouple of beers." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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