A professor stood before her philosophy class with some items placed in front of her. When the class began, she wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mason jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. She 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. She shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. She then asked the students again if the jar was full. They all agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up every nook. She asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “yes!”

The professor then produced two glasses of red wine from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.The students could not help but laugh.

“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, children, health, friends and your favorite passions. If everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter – your job, house, car, etc. The sand is everything else – aka the small stuff.”

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” she 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. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18 holes of golf. There will always be time to clean the house and mow the lawn.”

“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 and said, “I’m glad you asked. The wine just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there is always room for a few glasses of wine with a friend!”