The Mayonnaise Jar and the 2 Cups of Coffee
(author unknown)
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 cups of
coffee.
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 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–your faith, 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. Play with your children. 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 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 a
friend.”
