Life is like a bottle of mayonnaise
The Mayonnaise Jar and the 2 Cups of Kool Aid.
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 2 cups of Kool Aid.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in
front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly 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 that 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 Kool Aid 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,
your family, your children, your health, your friends and your
favorite 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 checkups. 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 Kool Aid 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 Kool Aid with a friend."