Jar of Mayonnaise and 2 beers

Honestly, I probably get 20 emails like the one below every week and just delete them out of my inbox. For whatever reason, this one actually made me think a little and I thought was a pretty good analogy of life and the infinite struggle to prioritize all the things going on everyday. I do warn you, it's cheesy.



The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Beers
>
>
> 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 beers.
>
> 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 that 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 a unanimous 'yes'.
>
> The professor then produced two beers 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. Spend time 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 ball 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 and said,
> 'I'm glad you asked.' The beer just shows you that no
> matter how full your life may seem, there's always
> room for a couple of beers with a friend.'

I think this got to me, because I definitely can see how work can suddenly take over your life and cause you to not do everything you want to do, or hang out with all the people you want to see.
The line I like the most is about cleaning the house and fixing the disposal. After living in a house for over a year, I still have a completely empty dining room minus a lighting fixture hanging from the ceiling. I get asked about it constantly and I only have one answer. "What do I need a dining table for?". Why would I put money towards furniture to fit into a room and sit there unused when I could spend that money on a trip somewhere?

I'll leave with a quote that I've always liked and I think fits into this post. It just magnifies how important it is to have fun because once it's over...it's over...

" Life is not a journey to the grave
With the intention of
Arriving safely in a pretty
And well preserved body,
But rather to skid in broadside,
Thoroughly used up,
Totally worn out,
And loudly proclaiming,

WOW !!!! What a ride!"