Monday, January 31, 2011

The Mayonnaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee

I have heard this before and can't really find the true author of it but it is a great story and reminder about what is truly important. I found this post on another blog and thought I would share.Check out her blog if you get a chance http://prayeatlovelaugh.blogspot.com/2011/01/when-life-seems-overwhelming.html Enjoy!

 
The Mayonnaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee

When things in your lives 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, he wordlessly 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 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 family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions--and 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 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 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 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."

Attitude

    I Like this quote I dislike this quote"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude,to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. it will make or break a company..a church.. a home. The remarkable things is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past..we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. i am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me ad 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you.. we are in charge of our attitudes."
-Charles R. Swindoll

I came across this quote today. It could not have come at a better time! Just when I needed a little reality check. Swindoll is right, Attitude makes a world of difference. Sometimes we get caught up in life. We are consumed with our own little world. I know as I get older that the days seem to be going by quicker then they did when I was in 5th grade and waiting on that 3pm school bell to ring. Talk about F-O-R-E-V-E-R! So much has changed since those days and I wonder what my life would have been like if I hadn't gotten sick. I wonder where I would be or what I would be doing if August 24, 1998 hadn't happened. I think about my boys and am reminded that I am right where I was always meant to be. Life is never easy. No matter what the struggles you have to face in your lifetime, attitude can make you or break you. Reading this quote made me realize that I have lost site of my positive attitude. I made it through cancer! You would think I wouldn't sweat the small stuff. But I am human and I do. I think I will make this my new year's resolution. A little late, but hey...most people have given up on their resolutions by now! So I guess better late then never, right? :-) 

I WILL LOOK FOR THE GOOD IN ANY GIVEN SITUATION.

I am sure typing this will probably be the easiest thing about this resolution. But I will give it a try! I challenge you to do the same.

Life is full of tests...I aim to pass.