Wednesday, September 22, 2004

One lesson that we can always learn from...

Ok, ok... call it a cop out. But I got a real nice email from my sister today and I really wanted to share with y'all. Besides, if I can make 5 minutes of your day go by faster... That's a pretty successful day. ;) Enjoy.
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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."

Written by Sharon L. Ward
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Especially as I try to figure out what's going on in my life... it's so very easy to get swept up in an occupation or hobbies or STUFF. For example, someone might laugh at me and say, "Wait wait... so WHAT time are you getting up in the morning to tailgate?? 7 freakin 30??? But the game isn't until NOON!!" Yea well... maybe it's a little more than tailgating to me. Yes I enjoy it. But it's also an excuse to see everyone that I haven't necessarily seen in a while. I could go on about other incidents in my life, but know this. I know I might not stay in touch with everyone like I used you. And at a risk of sounding like an after school special, all of you are important to me in one way or another. There are some that it's great seeing from time to time.. and there are others that I miss more than anything. My friends, my family... you all. You're my priorities.

If you know me, nice to meet you...