When things in your life seem overwhelming, when 24 hours in a day are not
enough, remember 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 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. 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 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 an 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-your God, family, your children, your health, 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 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 partner out to dinner!
Play another 18. 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. 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."