a great story to share...

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THE MAYONNAISE JAR AND 2 CUPS OF COFFEE

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough,

remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee...

A professor stood before his philosophy 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. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them
into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the
open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed
it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it
into the jar.

Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more
if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table
and poured the 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 golf balls are
the important things -- your God, family, your children, your
health, your friends, and 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, and 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 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 to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be
time to clean the house 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 coffee
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 cups of coffee with a friend."

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