Taking the time to think

This was actually taken borrowed from another great blog, Hannah Unscripted.  Hannah, if you're reading this, I can't comment on your blog for some reason and I was going to say that I really loved this story so, seeing as I can't comment on your blog I'll comment on mine and also get a post out of the deal!  Also, I loved your poem.

Anyways, I'm sure many of you have read this story before as it's part of one of those email forward chains but, if you're like me, you may not have taken the time to really read it.  It really makes you think about what you're spending your days doing and what things are really important to you.

So, if you're going to read it, I advise you to read it and really think about it.  And, maybe, today's the day to start making little changes in your life.  Maybe today's the day you phone your Mom and tell her you love her.  Maybe today's the day you read a book instead of cleaning the bathroom.  Maybe today's the day that you comment on my blog and tell me how much you love me and that you think I'm really really awesome.  The beauty is, you don't have to make huge changes to make your day just a little bit brighter.  It's all up to you.


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 beer.

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 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 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 an unanimous "yes."
The professor then produced two cans of beer 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 family, your children, your health, your friends,your 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, 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 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 partner 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 their hand and inquired what the beer 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 beers.