New tips for stress-free life

When things in your life seem almost too much to

handle, when 24 Hours in a day are not enough,

remember the sugar jar . . . and the 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 sugar 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 an 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.

“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 cup of coffee

with a friend.”