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Thought for the day
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Richard_S
Posts: 4,432 Forumite
Hi guys & gals,
I realise this story is more than a little simplistic but when we're worrying ourselves half to death over problems that we'll have forgotten all about in 6 months time, it's this sort of thing that can help get some perspective in life.
The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee
When things in your lives 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, he quietly 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 family, your children, your health, your friends and
your favourite passions---and 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 check-ups. Take your spouse 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."
I realise this story is more than a little simplistic but when we're worrying ourselves half to death over problems that we'll have forgotten all about in 6 months time, it's this sort of thing that can help get some perspective in life.
The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee
When things in your lives 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, he quietly 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 family, your children, your health, your friends and
your favourite passions---and 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 check-ups. Take your spouse 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."
0
Comments
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Love this! have just cut and paste and forwarded to all my friends,
:A0 -
Well I am surprised that Richard subscribes to beliefnet.com - that is where this comes from0
-
Cute_n_Quirky wrote: »Well I am surprised that Richard subscribes to beliefnet.com - that is where this comes from
Hi Cute 'n' Quirky,
I don't subscribe to beliefnet.com, it was an "all users" email at work and I thought it was quite cute & quirky :rotfl: :rotfl:
Why are you suprised that I would subscribe to the site? No prizes for guessing where I'm going next.
Regards
Richard0 -
Cute_n_Quirky wrote: »Well I am surprised that Richard subscribes to beliefnet.com - that is where this comes from
I'm not sure that it really matters where it came from. Anything that puts our 'debt' problems into the right perspective is always welcome here.
But thanks for bringing beliefnet.com to my attention. :beer:I am NOT, nor do I profess to be, a Qualified Debt Adviser. I have made MANY mistakes and have OFTEN been the unwitting victim of the the shamefull tactics of the Financial Industry.
If any of my experiences, or the knowledge that I have gained from those experiences, can help anyone who finds themselves in similar circumstances, then my experiences have not been in vain.
HMRC Bankruptcy Statistic - 26th October 2006 - 23rd April 2007 BCSC Member No. 7
DFW Nerd # 166 PROUD TO BE DEALING WITH MY DEBTS0 -
I'm such a sad sack - this just made me cry, and realise just how much time I personally have wasted on the useless things and not spent on the things that make me and OH happy. The other day he came up to me in the kitchen whilst I was making coffee and gave me a huge hug then swung me around (strong man is our MR. Pixie Pie lol) and it made me so happy - something we haven't done for months given our current situation of worry worry worry.
Recently I have been trying not to worry about smaller things in the grand scheme - we can't pay the rent? Whilst worrying, there's nothing we can do, so don't stress, just keep plodding on - due to my brother being diagnosed with Cancer and realising just how short life is. I now want to run towards BR and get it over with so we can start our lives again living them instead of existing through them.
Thank you Richard (even if it did make me cry lol).:DDo not feed the trolls please.0
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