Mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee

An acquaintance posted an anecdote that I thought to be quite apropos to my train of thought lately about my job and about what my priorities in life should be.

As much as a person can enjoy their job and love going into work, it is still just that, just a job. Time spent at work means time spent away from the things that are most important in life. For me, that means my husband, my cat and family, my friends, my home and the hobbies I like to do with my own time.

I do my best to get everything I can accomplish done in a given day, I make the most of the time I’m there and then I leave. As much as I might enjoy my job, it is not my life, it is not my identity. You won’t find me staying late or coming in on weekends, my time is far too valuable.

This is so fitting and much more eloquent in defining how to look at what is important in your life:

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, 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 to the very top 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 and the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. Again he asked the students 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 - your faith, your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your passions — things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

“The pebbles represent 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 holes. 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.”

I spent my weekend with Mark, with family and friends. We are both healthy, stable and happy. We live in a house and city that we love. We nurture each others growth by sharing in our hobbies. Our lives are full and for these things I am grateful.