Okay, so we've all had a bad week: filled with sadness, anger, hostility, etc. I even had to vent -- and what a vent -- about the killer with sadistic humor in a fake ad to him. I probably should have emailed it to myself and then deleted it, but I've never been afraid to voice my opinion.

Futhermore, things that are truly important to us help us get over the insane things in life and sometimes our crazy behavior. I was reminded of this when I read an email sent to me by a friend. I have read this before, but I thought it was worth sharing. I know what some will state, "Why is this crap on this board?" It's a general discussion board, so DC -- if you must -- please feel free to move the post to another board.

"Mayonnaise Jar & Two Beers... 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 fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was 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... '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 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, 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...  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 fix the disposal.  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 of Beers with a friend."


Hugs,
Ciara

Hi Ciara. I hope life feels more manageable to you. Thanks for the object lesson. I heard it as a different object lesson; that of being how full our lives can be if we have the patience to take it all in.

I have included a link to my favorite short essay of all time.  It is short and worth reading.

"The Station" by Robert Hastings

and now I have glass, pebbles, sand and beer all over the floor.  Worse yet, I don't have any beer to drink.

Wanna come over and help clean it up?

j/k  

You do know, don't you, that you are not to hit the golf balls, with your club, while they're in the jar.

If I've told you once, I'll tell you again:

Those are not crystal glasses you're using. They're plastic. They leak (like so many other things). Besides, you forgot the enormous golf balls.

Hugs,
Ciara

Ciara,You ROCK!!!Hope ya had a great B-DAY!! Lots of hugs and kisses to somebody who I really look up to!! XO EVE

for repeating that truly great lesson on life.

Re: Wrong Ciara... But this one rocks as well! (eom)

OOOOOOPS! GAWSH, I FEEL LIKE A TOTAL DORK NOW!! She's always messin around w her name in posts guess I got ....lost!! Well anyway, thank you  OTHER Ciara!! That was beautiful!XOXO

Thanks for the uplift Ciara..
I thought I'd share this one that I had recently heard that I thought I'd chime in with..

The Dash
by Linda Ellis


I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

C_K