How Do You Set Priorities...?

In our busy world it's so easy to get caught up in the details and forget what's really important. When I feel that happening to me, I pull out this story to remind me to stop - think - and remember what the "rocks" are in my life.

Here's a quick story for you; A philosophy professor stood quietly in front of the class, waiting for students to take their seats. When they were ready, he silently took an empty mayonnaise jar from his desk and filled it to the top with rocks, about two inches in diameter. When he was done he asked the students whether the jar was full. They replied that, sure, it was full.

Next the professor took a box of small pebbles and poured them into the jar, shaking the jar so that the pebbles fell into the open areas between the larger rocks. His students were amused. When he asked the students again if the jar was full, they agreed that it was.

Then the professor poured in a box of sand, which naturally filled up all the spaces in the jar between the rocks and the pebbles. Then he explained the purpose of the exercise... Holding up the jar, he said "This is your life. The rocks represent all the important things - like family, relationships, your health, the things that are so important, that if you lost them, you would be devastated." Next he said, "The pebbles represent the other things that matter, but are less important - like your job, a car or a house. They are less meaningful to you, compared to your family, relationships and your health." Finally he said, "The sand represents everything else. If you put the sand in the jar first, there would be no room at all for the rocks! It is the same thing with your life. If you spend all your energy and your time on the unimportant things, you won't have room for things in life that really matter!

His advice was, "So, set your priorities. Be mindful of what your 'rocks' are. And remember that the rest is just sand and pebbles."

I hope you like this story. I keep it handy for whenever I need a refresher on what's most important!

God Bless You!

Temple