I came across this while reading threads in the Warrior Forum and felt the need to share it with my readers. I hope it means something to you. It certainly does to me.
Hope this boosts your morale at times when it seems things are not working as well as you would like… there are people who we are fighting for and reasons to do so…that’s why we fight.
The Important Things in Life
A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table 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 rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “Yes!”
“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognise that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children – 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, your car.
The sand is everything else. The small stuff.”
“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued “there’s no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life.
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for what’s really important to you.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to work, clean the house, have a dinner party and fix the sink.
Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”