A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table 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 rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up the remaining open areas of the jar.
He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.”
“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the 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 job, your house, 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 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 important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party, or fix the disposal.”
“Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”
Author Unknown
I read this story today before making my patient visitations. The story helped me to see life in greater perspective. The patients were inspired by it as well. Thank you. I will also be sharing this during our hospice team meeting.
This is my first daring step to comment on a story. My thoughts are similar to the moral the story described in this blog. To have meaningful and energetic life, we need to give importance to things which are actually required so there is a room for your growth in flourishing and developing society.
Great. It’s really inspiring to me.
Really a heart touching story.
Very heart torching and lovely story. It teaches how to live a good life.
True.. what matter most is that you have time with your families, relatives, and friends…
Money is only a thing which can make you happy for a single moment but the true happiness comes together with your loved ones…
I read this story and it was very useful to me. I now reliased my family is improtant……….. I am happy after reading story …..
Thanks.
Nice!!! Fact that everyone has to be known.
This is one of the best stories I have ever come across.
I am in a very good mood now after reading this story. Thank you.
I real get inspired by this story. Indeed, this taught me about management for my life.
Nice story.
Realy nice stuff, I think with such knowledge, many will lead a happy life knowing how to prioritise things. Lesson learnt.
Yea….a nice one…
Thanks a lot.
It is really a touching story, and you can learn a lot from it.
Superb……….Story.
This is very interesting, it gives you the real meaning of life, at times we ignore rocks and put much emphasis on pebbles which can always perish anytime……..thanks alot for this story.
It’s really fantastic and inspiring story.
Still, there is a space for water in that jar…
A wonderful site….really awesome 🙂
I was looking for such site for a long time and now I got that 🙂
Will be a regular visitor at the site and will try to contribute from my side
Thanks for a value story
Very inspiring & good story.
It’s a very touching story and I can relate to it.
Thank you for the wonderful site
Thank you so much we have this site. I’m going to share this story and the other stories in my program. God bless us all!
It is an important lesson to make me a better person.
Thank you very much, is touching and encouraging to look back.
keep it up.. good story ^_^
Wow.. I need a change fastly..
Ya, really I realized my mistakes so thanks to the author.
This was said in such a profound way!!!! Indeed live is such….. this was really heart felt and much thanks is given to the author!!!
A very Inspiring Story…. I LIKE IT…………… 😀
Very nice story. It touches the heart and mind of the readers.
I was inspired and now I know what are the things that we must give priority in our lives…..Thanks and God Bless……
Nice one Sir
This is really true! Thank you!
It is very amazing to me or all of us.
Thnx awesome story which gives valuable lesson
Very nice and motivating story.
Very much motivating, I learned something new today…
Great Story! Makes a lot of sense. Thank you.
Oh outstanding moral keep it up……..
Awesome story !!!
Touching story !!!
Each and every individual should know this.
Good story for better understand
It’s a good one. I liked it.
This story made me to realize what I am losing in my life. Having realized that, I will definitely rectify my mistakes.
Thanks.
Thanks. This is true. First is family but sometime we change the priority. If we do work with this story, we wil never go wrong and disappointed.
Thanx. This is an excelent work you are doing for the whole world.
– Sri Lanka
Nice one, I am listening to classical music while reading this to cause a more profound effect, and the sad thing is, I ignored my mom so I can read this and did not even listen to what she is trying to tell me. The fact that this story made me realize that suggests that it does indeed have a good morale.
Love your mom, love your family man, the rest is all f***ing sand.
It really works for me because today I have to decide about my job, which does not suit me and my family. Everything is disturbed so after reading this story I really get the point about the importance of present rather than future which we do’t know. Thank u very much.
It’s very nice ….. I have learned much from this story …
It is very, very good story… we are really inspired with this story and we have clear in our mind about the important thing in our life …. thank you author for teaching us a beautiful thing about life…!!!
The story itself is so simple but implants deep moral values for us. Life is indeed so complex, if we don’t know how to set priorities in our lives then we could not live life to its fullest. The rocks, pebbles and sand must go hand in hand with GOD, which the jar represents.
Thank you very much for this great story that is emotionally overwhelming. God bless.
The story is so heart touching.
It really seems good to show important things of our life ……..thanks 2 the author for such a good story.
It’s really cool….
Very, very touching and inspiral short story. It teaches us how to live LIFE ! I am very much impressed with this story.
Real true!!!
Interesting story.
Need to fix this in mind and accordingly give the priority to the things.
Thanks
Thank you very much for this beautiful Inspiration.
God Bless You.
It’s good.
One who reads it never denies priority of family in their life.
Really Good one
Tks
Great story. Communicated a lot to me.
Really awesome and need to understand.
Very nice. I’ll share it with my esl students. Thanks!
** life matter most.. enjoy while we have it..
Perfect in every way. Nice story.
The story was really heart touching… The beloved ones are more important in our life then anything else…..
Excellent story……… interesting
I like this story because of saying some important things of our life and the person who written this story he felt about human being nature
I like this story very much. It teaches me how my internet games consuming all my valuble times for the worst.
Rock, pebbles and sand make sense!! Are you with me friends? Thnks!!!
I like the story very much. Yes, sometimes we give too much importance to the things which are not very important.
Good Story I liked