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12-04-2009, 05:43 PM
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Magnate
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The Mayonnaise Jar
When things in your life seem, almost too much to handle, When 24 Hours in a day is not enough, Remember the mayonnaise jar and 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 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. '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 - family, children, health, Friends, and 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, 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. 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. 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. 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.'
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You're alive. Do something. The directive in life, the moral imperative was so uncomplicated. It could be expressed in single words, not complete sentences. It sounded like this: Look. Listen. Choose. Act. ~~Barbara Hall I long to accomplish a great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker. ~~Helen Keller |
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12-04-2009, 09:08 PM
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Senior Member
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Thanks, Stitcher
I've read this before but never saved it. It's a wonderful tale. happy holidays  jean
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Jean B This isn't the life I wished for, but it is the life I have. So I'm doing my best. |
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12-06-2009, 12:52 AM
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Member
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So much of our time is spent sweating the small stuff. We all know better, and yet small stuff still occupies such a large place that we often consciously allow it to determine how our life goes.
Why is it so easy to concentrate on the small things and at the same time so difficult to let them go and devote our energies to those things that are vitally important to our happiness and personal growth? Perhaps we just need to be reminded occasionally (thank you Stitcher) by something catchy and clever, that our lives are not what happens to us but what we make of what happens to us. |
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12-07-2009, 09:10 AM
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Magnate
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I too thought it was an especially touching reminder of not sweating the small stuff, but remembering what is important; especially this time of year.
__________________
You're alive. Do something. The directive in life, the moral imperative was so uncomplicated. It could be expressed in single words, not complete sentences. It sounded like this: Look. Listen. Choose. Act. ~~Barbara Hall I long to accomplish a great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker. ~~Helen Keller |
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12-07-2009, 09:21 AM
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Magnate
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I was in a conversation circle yesterday at church. The minister had spoken about a church that had grown so small that they had come to a conscious vote to not meet formally on Sundays, but to go out into the community and volunteer at soup kitchens and shelters and the like.
One of the circle members said something about having a committee to decide what charity to work with. I thought how ridiculous that was. So, i piped up and said, if you want to work with a charity just go to it as individuals. We don't need a committee to decide this, just go to any of the area soup kitchens, shelters, and there is the Red Cross too, they always need help, especially in the food bank which is busy daily. I helped with the Red Cross Thanksgiving food packages. Doing that was just a simple reminder of what anyone with food in the pantry at home; what a blessing it is to afford to go to the grocery store.
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You're alive. Do something. The directive in life, the moral imperative was so uncomplicated. It could be expressed in single words, not complete sentences. It sounded like this: Look. Listen. Choose. Act. ~~Barbara Hall I long to accomplish a great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker. ~~Helen Keller |
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| "Thanks for this!" says: | RLSmi (12-07-2009), violet green (12-07-2009) |
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The Mayonnaise Jar
love this
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