Mayonnaise Jar and Coffee

I was reading my friend's blog just now, and it striked me with this story I received a while ago. I googled it, and paste it over here, cause I think it worth the keep.

I have been telling my students to learn prioritise their task in life, after realising how important it is via harsh lessons. I wonder any of my words ever entered their heart?

Anyway, here it is again:
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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 coffee . .

A professor stood before his Philosophy class and had some items infront of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and emptymayonnaise 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 thejar. 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 torecognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things - your God, family, yourchildren, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions - thingsthat if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life wouldstill be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, yourhouse, and your car. The sand is everything else-the small stuff.

If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is noroom 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 willnever 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 coffeerepresented. 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."