here's one of my favourite passages which i find pretty meaningful n true (?) =)


- A Great Reminder -

A philosophy professor stood before his class. He had some items on the table in front of him. When class began, he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks about 2" in diameter.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. Then the professor 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 rocks. He then asked the students if the jar was full. Again they agreed that it was. When the professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar the students laughed. The sand, of course, filled in everything else.

When pouring everything out and reversing the order of filling the jar by putting the sand into the jar first, there was no room for all the pebbles and rocks, even when shaking the jar.

"Now," said the professor, holding up the jar, "I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things in your life, your family, your partner, your health, your children - anything that is so important to you that, if it were lost, you would be nearly destroyed. The pebbles are the other things in your life that matter, your job, your house, your car. The sand is just that... the small stuff. The order of filling the jar applies the same way to your life. If you spend all your energy and time on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. So pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Be with your family.... play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out on a date..... dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal. Take care of the rocks first.... the things that really matter.

Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."