Tuesday, December 9, 2008

2 cups of coffee


I've been really busy lately, and having a hard time finding time to do much more than work. It's been a while since I've posted, and this e-mail came across to me recently reminding me to take time for the good stuff in life. The folks I chat with on my blog are some of the good things in life, so I felt I should share this with you....

The Mayonnaise Jar
And 2 CUPS OF COFFEE


When things in your life seem
almost too much to handle,
when 24 Hours in a day is not enough,
remember the mayonnaise jar
and 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 an 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 - God, family, children, health,
friends, and 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, house, and 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.

So...

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."

15 comments:

  1. Whoa...deep thoughts by Mr. Motorcycle in 1 frozen place.

    Very cool story and I couldn't agree more. Always time for coffee! lol

    Very true and appropriate. Thanks for putting this out there. Sometimes we forget about what is really important. What do you measure success by?

    Only problem is that my life jar is a pickle jar...I guess that will still work for the demo right?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Vlassic kosher dill spears!!! I'm with ya Dave! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very contemplative stuff.
    I'm lovin' it!

    Never heard this one before. Thanks for sharing it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. That made me say, "Awwww." It's so true! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks Mr. M for this post. I've been working long hours and weekends so your post gave me a little pick me up!

    :)

    Are you over winter yet? I sure am!!!! Ice and Snow today. ICK!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for sharing this.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Excellent! I have seen this before, but it's nice to be reminded to take care of the golf balls in life. It's so simple, but we tend to make it more difficult. Thanks for posting this and keeping us in check. Have a nice day!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you. My veri. word is stifilas I hope the hell not. Or my wife is in deep trouble.

    ReplyDelete
  9. "Fellow golf ball"...
    Did she maybe mean to say "fellow goof ball"?

    ReplyDelete
  10. FLHX_Dave,
    Coffee, Do you know anyone who likes coffee?
    What do you measure success by? ...inches and minutes. Oops, sorry, I have to pause for a minute to pick my mind up out of the gutter it just fell into.

    Mrs RC,
    Oh the dirty Sh*T they say when trying to sell giant dill pickles the Renaissance Festival!

    Dean "D-Day",
    Guess I never thought of it being contemplative stuff. Guess you are right. Right up you ally!

    B.B.,
    That made me say, "Awwww." too.

    IHG,
    Winter is here, work is just starting to slow down a bit, and I'm just now forcing myself to take time to blog a bit.

    As far as winter goes, it is in the twenties, and there is plenty of snow and ice here now. I surrender till spring. (maybe):)

    Jay Green A.K.A Road Captain,
    No Thanks needed for sharing this. It was my blogger duty. (I just said doodie) LOL! O.K. I'm like four years old at heart sometimes.

    Lady Ridesalot,
    Always glad to remind people to spread a little cheer.

    Mrs. Motorcycle,
    So, my fellow golf ball, the good deed is done, the reservation is set.

    Webster World,
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  11. Fantastic, i will surely use this with my next Tutorial group when they say that have no time.

    ReplyDelete
  12. A philosopy on Life that I live by.
    Thanks for posting it.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Monkey,
    I hope it comes in handy.

    Big D., If you live by it, your ahead of the game. Most of us need to be reminded to take a step or two back and enjoy the good things in life. It's so easy to be caught up in the sh*t that just doesn't really matter when we're dead and gone.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great blog. I think the story works with a beer as well! Cheers!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. One Harley Rider,
    Cheers to you as well. I agree I think the story works with a beer as well! I almost changed it to that, but then thought, many folks don't drink.

    ReplyDelete

Comments with links will be deleted, so do not even bother. Hiding a link in your name will not work either.
No one rides for free.