Mayonnaise jar and coffee

Here's something I got via e-mail from Graeme MacKinnon, yes the Australian football coach who once made Cebu his home, which I'd like to share with you.

I hope you'd like it too:

The Mayonnaise Jar and Coffee

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 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 infamous "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. These are your family, your children, your faith, 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. These are your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else - the small stuff in life.

"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.

a. Play with your children.

b. Take time to get medical checkups.

c. Take your partner out to dinner.

d. Play another 18.

e. 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."

* * *

MILESTONES: Birthdays are one of those things we should take time out to celebrate. This is the reason why no matter how my column looks full, I always put a special place to greet people at the bottom.

Belated birthday greetings go to The FREEMAN community editor Divine Sanchez-Ngujo (August 15), Judith Eugenio (August 16), and to Rotary Club of Cebu Fuente President Michael Veloso (August 16).

Manang Me'Anne Alcorod-Solomon is celebrating her birthday this Saturday and is preparing a special treat for kids with cancer. This is her new advocacy and as one of her fans and little brothers, I fully support the cause. More power to you Manang and to all the birthday celebrants!