There's always timeThere's always timefor a couple of cupsfor a couple of cups

of coffee.of coffee.

A professor stood before hisA professor stood before hisphilosophy class and had somephilosophy class and had some

items in front of him.items in front of him.When the class began, wordlessly,When the class began, wordlessly,he picked up a very large andhe picked up a very large and

empty mayonnaise jar and proceededempty mayonnaise jar and proceededto fill it with golf balls.to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students ifHe then asked the students ifthe jar was full.the jar was full.

They agreed that it was.They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up aSo the professor then picked up abox of pebbles and poured them intobox of pebbles and poured them intothe jar. He shook the jar lightly.the jar. He shook the jar lightly.The pebbles rolled into the openThe pebbles rolled into the openareas between the golf balls. Heareas between the golf balls. He

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

Of course, the sand filled upOf course, the sand filled upeverything else. He asked once moreeverything else. He asked once moreif the jar was full. The studentsif the jar was full. The studentsresponded with a unanimous "yes." responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced twoThe professor then produced twomugs of coffee from under themugs of coffee from under thetable and poured the entiretable and poured the entire

contents into the jar,contents into the jar,effectively filling the emptyeffectively filling the empty

space between the sand.space between the sand.The students laughed.The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the"Now," said the professor, as thelaughter subsided, "I want you tolaughter subsided, "I want you torecognize that this jar representsrecognize that this jar representsyour life. The golf balls are theyour life. The golf balls are theimportant things-your family, yourimportant things-your family, your

health, your children, your friends,health, your children, your friends,your favorite passions-things thatyour favorite passions-things that

if everything else was lost and onlyif everything else was lost and onlythey remained, your life would stillthey remained, your life would stillbe full. "The pebbles are the otherbe full. "The pebbles are the otherthings that matter like your job,things that matter like your job,your house, your car. The sand isyour house, your car. The sand is everything else-the small stuff.”everything else-the small stuff.”

If you put the sand into the jarIf you put the sand into the jarfirst, “he continued,” there is nofirst, “he continued,” there is noroom for the pebbles or the golfroom for the pebbles or the golfballs. The same goes for life. Ifballs. The same goes for life. Ifyou spend all your time and energyyou spend all your time and energyon the small stuff, you will neveron the small stuff, you will neverhave room for the things that arehave room for the things that areimportant to you. Pay attention toimportant to you. Pay attention tothe things that are critical tothe things that are critical to

your happiness.your happiness.Play with your children. Play with your children.

Take time to get medical checkups.Take time to get medical checkups.Take your partner out to dinner. Take your partner out to dinner.

Play another 18.Play another 18.There will always be time to cleanThere will always be time to cleanthe house, and fix the disposal.the house, and fix the disposal.

"Take care of the golf balls"Take care of the golf ballsfirst, the things that reallyfirst, the things that reallymatter. Set your priorities.matter. Set your priorities.

The rest is just sand."The rest is just sand."

One of the students raisedOne of the students raisedher hand and inquired whather hand and inquired whatthe coffee represented.the coffee represented.The professor smiled. The professor smiled.

"I'm glad you asked."I'm glad you asked.It just goes to show you that noIt just goes to show you that no

matter how full your life may seem,matter how full your life may seem,there's always room for a couplethere's always room for a couple

of cups of coffee." of cups of coffee."

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