Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Speaking of Coffee

I saw this today from the Homeschooling with Humor Yahoo group run by our very own and very talented Jojo...and since we've been talking about coffee lately, I thought it would be perfect to share with my friends.


 


The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of 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 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 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. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. 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."

5 comments:

jaminacema said...

I love this message, but I of course now want to try it myself! LOL

amada said...

Hey, when I'm in Houston here in a couple weeks...


Wanna have a cup of coffee? :)


It would be fun to see 7 kids running around a Starbucks wouldn't it?! Heheheh.


Amy

Cajamarca, Peru


DanielleW said...

Very cute. I like this better than other versions I've seen. And it always great to be reminded what's important.

MySmokyMtnHomeschool said...

Marsha,


I love your new template! It is absolutely beautiful!


I am not going to use the CHOW as the core for my history. I am using the MOH instead. We started using it last year, and the girls really liked it. Basically, we follow it and do the lessons as Unit Studies. You can spend as little or as much time on each topic as you wish. The Core 1 + 2 history doesn't really go along with the readers anyway, so I think it will work out just fine.


I can use the other books Usborne Book of World History, etc. to suppliment my MOH lessons as needed. I hope that makes sense.


As far as LA, I didn't really care for the SL LA. We are using the Rod & Staff instead. I like the structure of it.



Sorry you are feeling under the weather. I've had a bit of a sinus thing going on the last several days. BLECH. A nap sounds really nice about now, but I have a few more things to do before leaving for church. HOpe you feel better soon!


Have a great week!

Love,

Amy Beth <><

dawilli said...

I love that! thanks for sharing it!

I'm going to have to print that one out,

ali