PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

There was this philosophy professor who addressed his class one day

With a simple little message he intended to convey.

On the table in front of him were boxes containing rocks and pebbles and sand

And a huge plastic jar which he raised up in his hands.

He began to fill that jar with the bigger rocks and I’m sure his class was thrilled

When he asked them, after finishing, if they thought the jar was filled.

They nodded and the professor said, “Let’s see how sure you are.”

Then he picked up the box of pebbles and began pouring them into the jar.

The pebbles found little spaces between the rocks and I’m sure the class was thrilled

When once again the question was asked, “Do you think the jar is filled?”

Again they nodded agreement, just as the professor had originally planned

So he picked up the next box on the table and started pouring in the sand.

The sand filled in the remaining spaces and the professor said, “Indeed,

I believe the jar is finally full and the students all agreed.

The professor continued, “Think of this jar as your life, the rocks are the important things

Your partner, your children, your health, your family gatherings.”

“These are the things that give meaning to your life that tell you in which direction you should pull

If you lost everything else in your life but these, your life would still be full.”

“The pebbles are the other things that matter, like your job, your house, your car.

And the sand is all the small stuff you try to fit into your jar.

If you fill your jar from this,” here he raised up the sand box,

“Then you will have no room for the pebbles and larger rocks.”

“So too in life the professor said, if the small stuff is all you view

Then you will never have time for those things that are truly important to you.”

Pay attention to what is most critical for happiness, the professor tried to make them understand

Take care of the rocks for they are what matters and the rest...the rest is all just sand.