Taking care of the things that really matter

I love this story I’ve read and heard several times over the years…

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 jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls!  He then asked the students if the jar was full.  They agreed 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 recognise that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - your faith, your family, your children, your friends, your health, and your favourite passions.  The 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. 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.  Seek to strengthen your faith. 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 wash the car.  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."

Good advice for us all to heed in 2017 - take care of the "golf balls" first – the things that really matter.