Sunday, August 07, 2005

A couple of cups of coffee with a friend...

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 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, your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favourite 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 holes of golf. There will always be time to clean the house and take out the rubbish. 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."

14 Comments:

Blogger Kathak - The Story Teller! said...

I know all about Coffee.

August 08, 2005 10:47 AM  
Blogger Kathak - The Story Teller! said...

About Cold Coffee.

August 08, 2005 10:47 AM  
Blogger Kathak - The Story Teller! said...

And coffee stains

August 08, 2005 10:47 AM  
Blogger Kathak - The Story Teller! said...

A
n
d

August 08, 2005 10:48 AM  
Blogger Kathak - The Story Teller! said...

a
b
o
u
t

August 08, 2005 10:48 AM  
Blogger Kathak - The Story Teller! said...

p
o
p

August 08, 2005 10:48 AM  
Blogger Kathak - The Story Teller! said...

c

August 08, 2005 10:48 AM  
Blogger Kathak - The Story Teller! said...

o

August 08, 2005 10:48 AM  
Blogger Kathak - The Story Teller! said...

r

August 08, 2005 10:48 AM  
Blogger Kathak - The Story Teller! said...

n

August 08, 2005 10:48 AM  
Blogger kiten said...

yaa... I know that you know all about coffee, cold coffee, coffee stains and pop corn. And whenever I think of it, I laugh my heart out. :D

August 11, 2005 5:16 PM  
Blogger Sudhakar said...

Desi version of American Beer story :D

August 15, 2005 10:45 PM  
Blogger Kathak - The Story Teller! said...

What's the American Beer story?
Is there a story called American Beer?
And do they keep drinking beer in the story?

August 16, 2005 1:41 AM  
Blogger Sudhakar said...

Nothing much diff. Remove the coffee from the story and put beer in it. thatz it

August 16, 2005 2:56 AM  

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