Remember The Mayonnaise Jar, The Rocks & The Pitcher Of Beer

This story is always a great reminder.

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough to get things done, try to remember the story of the mayonnaise jar, the rocks and the pitcher of beer.

 

A while back I was reading about a teacher on subject of time management. One day this teacher was speaking to a group of students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration I'm sure those students will never forget. After I share it with you, you'll likely never forget it either.

 

As this teacher stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz." Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed mayonnaise jar and set it on a table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen large fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar.

 

When the jar was filled to the top and no more large rocks would fit inside, he asked the class "Is this jar full?" Everyone in the class unanimously said, "Yes." The teacher replied, "Is it, really? Let's examine closer," he said.

 

He then reached under the table again and this time pulled out a bucket of gravel. He proceeded to pour some gravel in, and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the open spaces between the bigger rocks. Then he smiled and asked the group once more, "Is the jar full now?" By this time the class was onto him. "I don't know, probably not," one of them answered. "Good answer!" he replied.

 

The teacher once again reached under the table and this time revealed a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in and it went into all the empty spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?" "It looks like it…but I’m not so sure anymore” shouted another student. Once again he said, "Good answer!"

 

This time he reached under and grabbed a pitcher of beer.  He then began to pour the beer into the jar. The liquid began to seep into the sand and into any open gaps it could find until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked up at the class and this time asked…"What do you think is the point of this illustration, and how it relates to time management?"

 

One eager student raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard enough, you can always fit something else into it?" The class laughed. "No," the speaker replied, "that's not the point. The truth is this illustration teaches us is about the important things in life and what YOU choose to put into it: If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all, they will never fit."

 

The jar represents your life.

 

The big rocks are the most important things in your life…your family, your spouse, your children, your health, your friends, your faith, your education. This could also include things that are truly meaningful to you like your purpose, your deepest passions, giving, teaching or mentoring others. If everything else was lost and only these big rocks remained, your life would still be full.

 

The gravel is other things that are also important, matter, or may be necessary; like your job, your house and your car. Things you like to do, but don’t necessarily have to do.

 

The sand is, well, EVERYTHING else---the small stuff. Too often we sweat the small stuff in life first. ‘If you proceed to put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the gravel or the large rocks. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room (or the time) for the things that are most important to you.

 

We need to begin with the things that matter most. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Spend time with your spouse. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups and pay attention to your health. Exercise.  Take your significant other out to dinner, have date night with your spouse. Tell people who are important to you that you love them. Take time to let people know that they have made a positive difference in your life. Take time to do the things you are passionate about. Live out your purpose. Life is too short.

 

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. There will always be time to finish "that project". There will always be time to check things of your 'honey do' list.  Take care of the big rocks first---the things that REALLY matter. Set your priorities. Because, in the end, the rest is just sand.

 

I encourage you all to think about "What are the big rocks in your life?" With that question…he ended the lesson.

 

Afterward, one of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented.

The professor smiled and said, ‘I’m glad you asked that...The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a pitcher of beer with good friends.

 

Live your life with enthusiasm. Live it with purpose and on purpose.  Make TODAY a great day!