Read this if you are STRESSED out or Sick.

[xtine]

A friend on myspace posted this as a bulletin, and i really enjoyed reading this because i was very stressed out due to all the things that were happening in my life.. wasn't going my way.. this sort of opened my eyes and made me realize things aren't so bad..

The Mayonnaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee


When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the story about "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 class began, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it up with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They all agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly so that the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. Again, he asked his students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

Next, the professor 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 pulled out 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 in your life: God, your health, family, your children, your friends, and your 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, your schoolwork, 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 golf balls or the pebbles. The same goes for life. If you spend all of your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness, and your HEALTH.

Play with your children.
Take time to get medical check-ups.
Take your partner our to dinner.
Play another 18 holes.
Spend 5 minutes to just breathe.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal or do your paper and pay the bill. Take care of the golf balls first. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and asked what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad you asked. It goes to show that no matter how full your life may seem, there is always room for a couple cups of coffee with a friend."




I hope this helped some people realize the stress they need to rid from their lives. It helped me and I hope it means something to you too. We always can use a little reminder.

[chattiesmom]

Thank you so very much for taking time to post this! I plan to print it off on some nice paper and post it EVERYWHERE I might need a reminder.....

[Amber_lv]

Wow i could have used that a week ago lol. Thanks for posting that it was very nice

[Shadow]

Thanks! I loved it. I think many of us could use a reminder from time to time.

[omega]

That's pretty cool - thanks for posting it! Shall we have a cup of coffee???