Is your life full? The Mayonnaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee

This is from a psychology lecture @ punahou chapel, and maybe a few other places. I found it insightful and may help put things in perspective regarding your life. I maintain no intellectual rights to this, and my intent is solely to share this with people who's lives are filled with constant doom and gloom. With out further ado...

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The Mayonnaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee
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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 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 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--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 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 thought the moral of the story was if you fill up the jar with sand and golf balls there isn't enough room for a useful amount of beer? I mean, morals and stuff, useful, but... beer! This professor guy needs his priorities straight. I'm sure even with a bit of the Golf Balls pebbles and Sand in the way a bit of beer could be poured into it.

reply to post by Sachyriel


lol.

i think the students would have cried in outrage against alcohol abuse if he cracked two fresh beers and poured them over sand and rocks.

reply to post by wishful1gnorance


As he poured the coffee into the jar he should have said, "And this brown stuff is government coming into the mix."

Nice concept...almost sounds like a professor Timothy Leary lecture

Thank you so very much
Second line.

Originally posted by Sachyriel
I thought the moral of the story was if you fill up the jar with sand and golf balls there isn't enough room for a useful amount of beer?

I mean, morals and stuff, useful, but... beer!

This professor guy needs his priorities straight. I'm sure even with a bit of the Golf Balls pebbles and Sand in the way a bit of beer could be poured into it.

edit on 5-5-2012 by Sachyriel because: I get it, but I wanted to say beer instead of coffee, though I like coffee

Hahaha beer certainly does kick ass Beeeeeer, its liquid bread its good for you! But if you paid attention, he said the golfballs represent the IMPORTANT things in life, like family, love, BEER, etc... You don't need to have a friend to fully enjoy and appreciate beer. I'm just saying...its not NECESSARY. "When I drink alone, I prefer to be by myself."