I posted this on my Instagram few days ago and have wanted to post it here, but wasn’t able to until now. I took this photo using the Hipstamatic app on my iPhone 4s while I was having my breakfast at a coffee place in City Hall. They could easily be in their 80s but they look pretty healthy.
The man was reading newspaper while his wife was having her toast. Once a while he would share with his wife what he was reading. I saw there was only one cup on the table. The man has either finished his, or they share or one of them don’t take coffee or tea. But regardless, there was love. I could feel it from where I sat.
Now, I would like to share with you a story that I read before. There seems to be some variations to it, but the message remains the same. Happy reading.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students, “Is the jar full?”
They agreed 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, “Is the jar 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 – God, family, children, health. Friends, and favorite passions – 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 job, house, and car. The sand is everything else – The small stuff.” And he shook the jar.
“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. So, 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 to dinner. 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 your loved ones.”