The Importance Of
Setting Priorities

The importance of setting priorities - This is a short story I found through one of my friends, which I loved so much, that I could not resist to not “share” it on my website. I want as many people to read this as possible, and understand the importance of setting priorities, and make this world a better place. So here it is:

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. The class began and without saying a single word he picked up a very large and empty jar and then started to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. The class all agreed that indeed, the jar was full.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them also into the jar. He shook the jar lightly, allowing the pebbles to roll into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They again 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 unanimously "yes."

The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now pay attention", 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 such as your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite 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 in your life, like your job, your house and your car. The sand represents everything else - the petty things that you like, but can also do without.

"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 petty things, you will never have room for the things that are really important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are more meaningful to you and critical to your happiness.

Spend some quality time with your children. Spend some quality time with your parents. Visit your grandparents more often. Take your spouse out to dinner occasionally to "spark up" the monotonous routine. Play another round of golf with your friends. Everyday "distractions" will always be present and are never-ending so just live your life as there were no tomorrow.

The Professor continued "Take care of the golf balls first - the things that really matter. Do you now see the importance of setting priorities? Everything else is just sand".

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented. The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad you asked." The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.

"Sometimes in our attempt to give children what we did not have, we forget to give our children what we did have" - Connie Podesta

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