Tuesday, October 16, 2012

20 minutes and 24 hours

I had a  most lovely conversatio with a former student of mine yesterday and we swapped stories of overcoming feelings of defeat. She's going through a rough time and I told her that she was allowed 20 minutes to have a pity party just for the purpose of acknowledging her feelings then she was to call me back so we could move forward. She chuckled and I replied, "Oh yeah I do suggest small pity parties, but I don't rsvp to attend any. lol" She called me back and we moved forward together.
Today this is what she had on her Facebook wall:
 
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 beers. 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 full it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar wad 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 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 beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. 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 and your favorite passions--and if everything else was lost and only they remains, 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 its 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. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and mow the lawn." "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 beer represented. The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad you asked. The beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple beers with a friend."...
 
FORWARD! Enjoy the rest of your day! 
Smooches!
Respect the Sway...before, during and after that 20 minutes!

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