The Lesson of the Mayonnaise Jar and the Coffee: Something We All Should Learn From and Live By

I got this as a forward from of all people, my boss (not the over-controlling one that I complain about - the other one that actually has a family and a life OUTSIDE of work). It was a few weeks ago when he sent it out and at the time I thought it was really cool but kind of just pushed it into my personal e-mail folder. Today, I was reflecting on some life choices that friends and family members have made in the past or are currently making and thinking about how everyone has different priorities in life but in the end we should all come back to one main thing: our friends and family. Life isn't an easy thing to handle (see past posts of mine!), and like yesterday, I recognize this fact and realize that the best thing to do is to see the positive things in life and be grateful for those things and each day that you have to enjoy them. Because you really never know what might happen from one moment to the next and you don't want to look back with regret. So here's to living life to the fullest and taking good advice from the story of the Mayonnaise Jar and the Coffee. Enjoy! :)


When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, just remember the mayonnaise jar and the coffee.

A philosophy professor stood before his 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 asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar slightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students 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 cups of coffee 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 and your favorite passions -- things that if everything else is lost and only they remained, 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 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 a medical check up. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18 holes. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the screen door. 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 coffee represented.

The professor smiled. " I'm glad you asked, " he said. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a cup of coffee with a friend.