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
Touchable story, thanks author for inspiring us God bless you!!
Exceptionally Good..!!
It’s great.! I agree with you:)
Really very nice and heart touching story give the name of author
Nice story..short but full of lessons
Thumbs up! The best way to invest in life is not on material things but to people you love. That will make your life complete. 🙂
…and the jar is your heart. If it’s big and open then more you will have.
Really it was lovely story. …..
Really useful !!!
Wow! wounderful story.Thanks God! This lesson illustrates what really motivates us at home and in the workplace..
Very interesting and educational story for every1. Thanks for the site
Very beautiful story. Just do not read and keep it aside, apply it in your life, Thankyou.
Pretty wonderful story! Actually, it didn’t just give the readers the main idea but with a twist by the use of the illustration. It is in reality that we need to balance or set up our priorities properly because if not, we will have great mistakes in our life although those wrongs give us lessons. Thank you author cuz you opened my mind to things I needed to see
This is the 1st story we’ve to learn in our life
Really it is a self help towards priorities of life.
Very motivational story, simple words but had tooo weight and so nicely explained and showed important things in lifee!!!!!!!!! Awesome
It is a great service to fulfill the human mind
The story was good and great! I just want to add that putting God first before our family because apart from God we can’t do nothing! amen…
I liked the story
Its a truly good story
FaBuLoUs
this story means a lot to one’s own life
It is true about our life, Thank you very much…..
Excellent! By reading this article I am very much inspired and motivated. I appreciate you immensely.
Emotional, inspiring story that changed my life
A good story to realize the importance of family and understanding priorities in life.
I just love d story,.. having great moral and inspiration to all of us……
It’s a very precious story
I am very happy for these brainy stories. I am getting some kind of valuable thoughts from this site.thank you for this site creators,
Awesome story! It was very motivational and inspirational.
Good Morning
Excellent stories from you.
Thanks for sharing these jewels.
God bless you.
My regards and blessings.
Maheswar
This is beautiful. I would add to the top of the list…God. I think the professor was very wise. Thank you!
It’s a heart touchong story.
Excellent story
I liked this story. It is worth telling to today’s children as the bondage is lessening.
It’s a wonderful story.
I believe if you do for the helpless (helpless is a broad word.. maggots, man, woman, dogs, donkeys). Don’t expect anything. Please don’t fear god, demon, anyone. Be fearless and just help any time, anywhere whoever. Please don’t fear. Just help yourself bro/sis. You have been selected for this Life. JUST HELP THE HELPLESS. NO FEAR.
This is a concise examlpe of prioritizing values in everyday life in terms of a small beautiful story, which significantly differentiate values, life and values of life!!!
So sweet story about our life.
Excellent moral inspired a lot will really be helpfull 2 me and my friends
I look that the story is a moral and nice
Moral and exciting story
Nice!!!!!!
Great story and is the truth of life. Putting his family first one would find enough space for pebbles and sand. But in reverse order , nothing is left for family.
The rock for me always represent solid or foundation. The family is the foundation of our being, without them living is lifeless. As of now, people are too much busy coping to their own needs, this means for materials but it takes only minutes or hour we can laugh, eat together with our family, simple gestures that makes us fulfilled. Sometimes we don’t know which is meaningful or meaningless. That’s why appreciate that your family is with you. And that’s bring you FULL of LIFE.
I like it very cute sweet nice stories from this blog.
Hi Barbara,
Yes, please feel free to. Take care.
Hello,
I have enjoyed this site for quite some time. I am currently writing a book to help young ladies. There are several stories on this site that I would like to utilize in my book and I would like your permission to do so. I will credit your site for any story used. Are you okay with me doing so?
Stories are really awesome I am very dignified and much inspired.
Oh, that is really true fact in life…….! I like it very much.
The story was really amazing
Really gave me a good lesson
A very simple and valuable story has very priceless lesson
Beautiful story..With this story people will come to know the importance of the family…beautifully described…!!!! 😀
Good things for life
What did the professor use to symbolize life?
It’s is a touching and meaningful story! I’m going to share with my friends.
This is a interesting and superb story. Thanks for the story.
A very touching story, makes us not forget our priorities in life, which is very important so we can be really happy!!!
Thank you very much.
Wow! Wonderful story.
Very nice story and good motivational also… Thanx to author…
This story is very meaningful.
I liked it. Many things to learn in life full of values.
This is the true sense of life, thanks for the world of wisdom.
Excellent Story. Most aptly stated.
It’s a very nice and heart touching story.. I became very happy after reading this story.
A very heart touching story I loved it so much ….
Rocky, it tells us to prioritize… first thing first before the second.
It’s very good moral story.
This story is excellent. I shall tell everyone whom I meet, which gives inspiration in their life, by planning priorities wise. Good Story. I liked very much. Thank you.
This is a truly inspiring story.
Wow! Wonderful thought in your mind, thank you…
Thank you!
Nice and touching story with teach the lesson to all those people who mess up their professional and personal life and forget the importance and value of the people and the things they have in their life.
Amazing story to know about real world….. Thanks for inspiration.
Really a heart touching moral story…….want to kiss the hands of the writer.