SDsalsaguy
03-09-2004, 07:47 PM
Take Care of the Rocks
—Source Unknown
A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks right up to the top, rocks about 2” 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, shaking the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. The students laughed. He again asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that yes; now it was. The professor then picked up a box of sand and, again lightly shaking the jar, poured in the sand. And, of course, the sand filled up everything else.
“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this is like your life. The rocks are the bigger important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children, your religion – anything that is so important to you that if it were lost, would be extremely damaging to you. The pebbles are the other important things in life that matter, but on a smaller scale – like your job, house, or car. The sand is everything else, the small stuff, including all entertainment.”
“If you put the sand or the pebbles into the jar first, there is no room for the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your energy and time on small stuff, material things, you will never have room for the things that are truly most important.”
There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, finish the addition, give a dinner party, fix the disposal, or wax the car. Many people drive themselves nuts and stress themselves out working on and dealing mostly with pebbles and sand. Set your priorities. Pay attention to the things that are critical in your life. Play with your children. Take time to exercise and get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing.
Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter.
—Source Unknown
A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks right up to the top, rocks about 2” 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, shaking the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. The students laughed. He again asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that yes; now it was. The professor then picked up a box of sand and, again lightly shaking the jar, poured in the sand. And, of course, the sand filled up everything else.
“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this is like your life. The rocks are the bigger important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children, your religion – anything that is so important to you that if it were lost, would be extremely damaging to you. The pebbles are the other important things in life that matter, but on a smaller scale – like your job, house, or car. The sand is everything else, the small stuff, including all entertainment.”
“If you put the sand or the pebbles into the jar first, there is no room for the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your energy and time on small stuff, material things, you will never have room for the things that are truly most important.”
There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, finish the addition, give a dinner party, fix the disposal, or wax the car. Many people drive themselves nuts and stress themselves out working on and dealing mostly with pebbles and sand. Set your priorities. Pay attention to the things that are critical in your life. Play with your children. Take time to exercise and get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing.
Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter.