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Lessons in life...


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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 then 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 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 like listening to Klipsch speakers-- 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. Like making arguments over what is best audio wise or trolling on the Klipsch BB.

"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 of golf. 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.

Now, I'm hoping that you are ready for a beer.

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I remember when beer was just beer. But no; the shallow, self-obsessed, ever trendy Baby-Boomers couldn't just be regular guys and have a goddam beer. No-oo; the yuppie saps had to go and make a Big Deal out of it, just like with cookies, gym-shoes (has there ever been a group of people so loathe to discard childish clothing?) and baby-buggies. Arghhh-gaaack-ehh

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I'd like to point out that this was once a crude way of how to make concrete.

Gravel,

then enough sand to fill the voids in gravel,

then enough cement to fill the voids in sand,

then enough water to fill the voids in cement.

However, it seems that this does not result in the best strenght for concrete after all.

- - - -

It may me a good parable for life, nonetheless. Unfortunately, in a bad economy, when so much, and so many, depend on a paycheck, keeping an eye on the job can only be paramount.

Gil

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Great story..though I don't like beer very much.

It is so true on many levels.

Thanks.

Substitute beer for Rum-n-Coke and then I can relate completely.

Regards,

John.

P.S. I like my golf balls.

(par for the course)

One of them is going to be 13 on Monday.

God...Do I feel old.

Is 32 considered..old?

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