GOLF BALLS, PEBBLES AND SAND
Most of our friends know that Cheryl was diagnosed with and treated for
breast cancer this past year. We were given a real challenge and Cheryl
being the remarkable woman she is was an amazement to be with as she
faced the challenges and decisions she had to make. Because we put our
Golf Balls into our jar first we had room for growth and we were both
stronger as we moved to the other side of this life challenge.
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A professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him.
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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.
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The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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‘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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 cups of coffee with a friend.
To Your Success,
Russ Aker - Reference for Success 