Beer's Vegetarian, Right?

[Guest guest]

LIFE AND A CAN OF BEER

 

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 beer.

 

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.

So 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 cans of beer 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 family, your children, your health, your friends,

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 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 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 spouse out to dinner.  Play another 18.  

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 beer 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 beers. "

 

 

 

'She said that there were places like

Londonderry, where " the women went out to work in

the shirt factories, and the men didn't have much

work and went out and talked to each other, and

from that came the idea that men could change

things by talking. " '

 

From " Old Boys Club Meets its Match, " Oct. 3,

2002 NYT by Martin Arnold, quoting Angela Bourke

[Guest guest]

Oh, My Gosh,....this is so great! Thank you for sending it!

Jane

-

The Stewarts

Friday, September 12, 2003 5:03 PM

Beer's Vegetarian, Right?

 

 

LIFE AND A CAN OF BEER

 

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 beer.

 

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.

So 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 cans of beer 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 family, your children, your health, your friends,

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 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 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 spouse out to dinner. Play another 18.

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 beer 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 beers. "

 

 

 

'She said that there were places like

Londonderry, where " the women went out to work in

the shirt factories, and the men didn't have much

work and went out and talked to each other, and

from that came the idea that men could change

things by talking. " '

 

From " Old Boys Club Meets its Match, " Oct. 3,

2002 NYT by Martin Arnold, quoting Angela Bourke