Wednesday 6 May 2009

TWO GLASSES OF WINE

When things in your life seem too much to handle, when 24 hrs in a day are not enough, remember the mayonaise jar and two glasses of wine.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty jar of mayonaise and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. "yes " they replied. 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 spaces between the golf balls. He asked the students again is the jar full "yes" He then picked up a box of sand and poured that into the jar. Of course the sand filled up everything else. Is it now full a unanimous "yes" The professor then produced two glasses of wine from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty spaces between the sand.
The students laughed , the professor said"NOW I want you to recognise that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things, your family, children, your health, friends, and your favourite passions; things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would be still full". The pebbles represent the other things your job, car, your house. The sand is everything else; the small stuff. "If you put the sand in first 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 your partner out to dinner, play another round of 18. 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 wine represented. The professor smiled " I'm glad you asked . It just goes to show that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of glasses of wine with a good friend"

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Go to the sea the ebb and flow are like your own unrest

The stillnes that follows laughter is like having a great
weight removed from your shoulders

7 comments:

The Quacks of Life said...

and its ready to be put in the fridge for you :D

Tricia Ryder said...

I enjoyed that J - it brought a smile, so thank you. An interesting observation on life and a salutary reminder to make the most of things.

Tricia Ryder said...

What a well written story J, and excellent advice - which I could well do to remind myself of from time to time.

Still enjoying your quotes from the "little book of ...." :)

oldcrow61 said...

Marvelous Avalon, gave me pause for thought.

avalon said...

Pete: Thanks hun, think it may be a bottle or two rather than two glasses LOL, i shall look forward to it very much.

Tricia: Very true to make the most of things. Glad you enjoyed it.

OC: Thanks don't go thinking about the housework now! Just the good things LOL

Jan said...

What a wonderful bit of philosophy, gave me a lot of food for thought actually, may help me sort some things out. Thanks for that. :)

avalon said...

Jan: Hope it helps a bit with things for you