FORUM FUN FEATURE!! Mayonnaise Jar Philosophy

**Bumper** · 08-30-2004

I found this bit of philosophy particularly pithy, and insightful, and felt some of you might as well (especially Tommy).

A philosophy professor stood before his class. There were several items on the desk in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large, empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks about two inches in diameter.

When he had finished, he asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was.

So the professor picked up a box of small pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar gently. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the empty spaces between the larger rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They answered that it was.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. As you might expect, the sand flowed into all the remaining spaces between the pebbles and the rocks.

“Now, “ said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this is like your life. The rocks are the most important things - your family, your partner, your health, your children - 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 career, your home, your possessions. The sand is everything else. The small stuff.”

“If you put the sand into the jar first, there will be no room for the pebbles and the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are really 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 dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party, or wash the car.”

“Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

But then a student took the jar, which the other students and the professor had agreed was full, and proceeded to pour in a glass of beer.

Naturally, the beer flowed into the remaining spaces within the container making the jar truly full.

The moral of this tale is: No matter how full your life is, there is always room for beer.

Critter · 08-30-2004

Funny! Somehow I don't remember that last section in the original version. Poetic license?

**Bumper** · 08-30-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Critter

Funny! Somehow I don't remember that last section in the original version. Poetic license?

Okay, Crit, you caught me. I'll admit I lightened it up from the original I received years ago. I don't think it hurt the intent...mostly. (That reminds me, it's time to renew that licence. Thanks, Crit. I'd hate to have the Poetry Police after me. I'm having enough trouble keeping clear of the mattress cops who are still after me for ripping the tag off the last Sealy Posturepedic I bought.)

**SunKneeMarie** · 08-30-2004

The one I got had the person pouring coffee in the jar... with the moral being, "There's always room for coffee with a friend." Sweet... I guess... but I like the beer ending better....

txhornet · 08-30-2004

I agree, always room for a beer. Much better ending Bumper!

Yook · 08-30-2004

ummmmmmmmmmm beeeeeeeeeeeeeer!

Critter · 08-30-2004

But it is hard to drink all that beer, what with the sand, pebbles and rocks in the damn jar. The sand is the worst, you can stop the others with your teeth!!

**Bumper** · 08-30-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Critter

But it is hard to drink all that beer, what with the sand, pebbles and rocks in the damn jar. The sand is the worst, you can stop the others with your teeth!!

Good point, Critter. I like my single malt Scotch "on the rocks", but prefer my beer with a mite less grit. (You'll note I capitalized Scotch...denoting the regal nature of the nectar.)

Critter · 08-31-2004

Does that mean your not a purist Senior Bump? error I meant Señor.

Don't drink it neat?

**Bumper** · 08-31-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Critter

Does that mean your not a purist Senior Bump? error I meant Señor.

Don't drink it neat?

Fraid not, Crit. I just can't hack it without the ice. I'm aware not drinking it straight up calls my reputation as a fancier into question, but that's the way it is. I just try to not have it linger so long in the glass that dilution becomes an issue.

Critter · 08-31-2004

Oh I agree completely.

08-30-2004	#1 (permalink)
Bumper Class Clown Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 9,245	FORUM FUN FEATURE!! Mayonnaise Jar Philosophy I found this bit of philosophy particularly pithy, and insightful, and felt some of you might as well (especially Tommy). A philosophy professor stood before his class. There were several items on the desk in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large, empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks about two inches in diameter. When he had finished, he asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was. So the professor picked up a box of small pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar gently. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the empty spaces between the larger rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They answered that it was. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. As you might expect, the sand flowed into all the remaining spaces between the pebbles and the rocks. “Now, “ said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this is like your life. The rocks are the most important things - your family, your partner, your health, your children - 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 career, your home, your possessions. The sand is everything else. The small stuff.” “If you put the sand into the jar first, there will be no room for the pebbles and the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are really 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 dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party, or wash the car.” “Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.” But then a student took the jar, which the other students and the professor had agreed was full, and proceeded to pour in a glass of beer. Naturally, the beer flowed into the remaining spaces within the container making the jar truly full. The moral of this tale is: No matter how full your life is, there is always room for beer. __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a pristine, well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally used up and worn out, shouting "Holy Shit...what a ride!!"

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08-30-2004	#2 (permalink)
Critter añejo Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cerca de Washington DC Posts: 3,343	Funny! Somehow I don't remember that last section in the original version. Poetic license?

08-30-2004	#4 (permalink)
SunKneeMarie character encapsulator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 25,649	The one I got had the person pouring coffee in the jar... with the moral being, "There's always room for coffee with a friend." Sweet... I guess... but I like the beer ending better....

08-30-2004	#5 (permalink)
txhornet ruined Join Date: May 2004 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 84	I agree, always room for a beer. Much better ending Bumper!

08-30-2004	#6 (permalink)
Yook way into it Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 122	ummmmmmmmmmm beeeeeeeeeeeeeer!

08-30-2004	#7 (permalink)
Critter añejo Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cerca de Washington DC Posts: 3,343	But it is hard to drink all that beer, what with the sand, pebbles and rocks in the damn jar. The sand is the worst, you can stop the others with your teeth!!

08-31-2004	#9 (permalink)
Critter añejo Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cerca de Washington DC Posts: 3,343	Does that mean your not a purist Senior Bump? error I meant Señor. Don't drink it neat?

08-31-2004	#11 (permalink)
Critter añejo Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cerca de Washington DC Posts: 3,343	Oh I agree completely.

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