11.16.2012

The Rocks, Pebbles and Sand in Your Lives

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about 2" 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 everything else.




"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this is 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, 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 time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal. Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."




What comprises your life? Is your jar of mayonnaise filled with more rocks, pebbles or sand? I'd be happy to know.



This forwarded email was sent by a good friend. I enjoyed reading it and I certainly wish that the message has touched your hearts. Though simple and brief, it is full of moral that will hopefully reverberate in your lives.


Photos from source 1, source 2 and source 3

60 comments :

  1. Good evening! Another inspiring story from you! :-)
    I have valuable rocks, a few pebbles and a little bit of sand in my jar. :-D

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  2. I had heard this story before, but I love the way you illustrated it. So perfect. So true.

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  3. This is such great advice, thanks for passing on!

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  4. Thank you for a thought provoking post. And to your good friend for sharing, too.

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  5. mMy jar is filled with many rocks :)

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  6. I love that lesson on life and have used it with the youth I teach in church.
    Thanks for sharing it, I never tire of the good message it gives!

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  7. An old one, but definitely worth reading and re-reading. Thanks for this reminder.

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  8. My jar is still filled with mayonnaise lol! Kidding aside, it's always been rocks with me, then the pebbles. I guess I am not very materialistic and I tend to think more of my family and friends before anything else. Much like the 5 balls you juggle...some of those are breakable. :-)

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    1. Revisiting...and I agree with you, that we should set our priorities straight. :-)

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  9. I have heard this before, too. But it was years ago and was wonderful to hear again. :)

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  10. love your post; of course rocks comprise my life - i cherish my family, my boyfriend, my health...

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  11. Such a nice post. Thank you for sharing. I need such especially at this times. Thank you!

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  12. This is not the first time I read this article. But it always reminds me to check my priorities. Thanks for sharing.

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  13. couldn't agree more, simplify life with things that will last & much more important :)

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  14. Hi, I'm a new follower! I love this story! Thanks for sharing. I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!
    Theresa

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  15. REally inspirational message. I agree that the kids and family are more important than work and other material items.

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  16. This is really nice and inspiring post. Sometimes we tend to forget or neglect especial things around us.

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  17. Got this story also from my email from way way back pa and this is one of my favorites that I'm still keeping until now. It's really enlightening!

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  18. I heard this story before pa. I got it from my email and happy to say that it's one of my favorites! Very enlightening story!

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  19. I heard about his story before, it's good that I was able to read it again and be reminded with my priorities in life. thanks for sharing. :)

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  20. This is interesting thanks for sharing:)

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  21. So inspirational... Rocks fill my jar but sometimes there are so many pebbles too!

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  22. I have all those in my life right now! :D Sometimes I get the sand get in the way, other times the rock. It's a learning process every day. But I guess, that's life. All we do is live it to the fullest! :) Thanks for a good sharing!

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  23. I really love the lesson imparted by this story. We definitely have to take care of the big stones first.

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  24. We discussed the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People in class which talked about the rocks and pebbles in our lives. It's always good to be reminded periodically to check because when we get caught up in our daily lives, we sometimes forget even if we know what is important.

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  25. cool post. pashare :) I'll share it on fb ^__^

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  26. cool post. pashare :) I'll share it on fb ^__^

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  27. This is such a touching story. It applies very well with our daily thoughts. My husband is always telling me to set aside work online and give time for my children. That's why I can relate with this.

    CE 11/20

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  28. Important reminders! Thank you very much for sharing.

    Thank you for giving me feedback on my blog as well.

    Have a blessed day. /Maria

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  29. I love this. I have a lot of rocks in my life. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am following you on GFC.

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  30. Aww,this is one inspirational post from you, Farida. As usual, you touched my heart again....

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  31. :-) i had always kept this story in mind eversince i read it (i cant remember when though).... this had been one of the stories that guide me everyday... :-)

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  32. This is very insightful. Time with our family cannot be replaced by material things. -ceemee

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  33. I love the lesson in this story. My jar is filled with rocks, of course. I was never materialistic or anything. My family has always been my number one. But it's still nice to be reminded every now and then, and to share this lesson.

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  34. These are my most favorite: "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 dancing" - BECAUSE I make sure I do those things regardless my busy schedule. Nice post! :)

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  35. the rocks will always be found inside my jar. nothing will ever change that. :)

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  36. it has always been rocks inside my jar. nothing will ever change that. :)

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  37. Thanks for sharing this. So inspiring indeed.

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  38. Very inspiring story.. will always keep my rocks on the right place.. XD

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  39. This is so inspiring. we all got the message. Plus, i fed your fishes to make them happy. :)

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  40. It was our retreat in college when I first heard about this very inspiring story... A lot of people miss the big and important things because they're too busy collecting the sands...

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  41. my jar is full of rocks and it will stay that way forever.. thanks for sharing this wonderful story...

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  42. this story really teaches to know how to set our priorities in life.

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  43. such a nice post, i always remember my rocks

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  44. Excellent post. It is good to regularly have these reflection times so we can look at our life differently.

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  45. nice share! i learned a lot from this post. never heard this before...

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  46. I've read this story before and as before, I'm glad to have my jar filled with all the rocks that matter, a few pebbles, and some sand. :D My family and my children always take priority over work and anything else.

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  47. Just wanted to share that right now I need to take care of one big rock: my health. The doctor asked me to stay home for a week or two why he treats my back. I better listen to him, he knows what he's doing! :)

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  48. I love the story. I think I have read this before and have forgotten about this story. Thanks for sharing. It is a nice reflection before I go to bed tonight. :D

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  49. Thanks for sharing Farida! This is very inspirational.

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  50. full of rocks always, I love my family...

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  51. Very eye opening and heart warming share. Heard this kind of story before but it never fails to mesmerize me whenever I hear such kind of stories.

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  52. Been hearing this story ever since. Even though I heard it many times before, this one never fails to make this kind of "chills and goosebumps" for me.

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  53. This is one good story to share. It is indeed that families and things that matters to us are the most important ones.

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  54. thank you for sharing this :)
    I am now following your blog check mine out

    http://loa20s.blogspot.com/

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  55. What an inspiring story. It made me smile when I red through it. I'm just glad I have great rocks in my life. Lots of them too since I have a big family. :-)

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