(Inspirational Story) The important things in life

A philosophy professor stood before his class
with some items on the table 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 rocks, about 2 inches
in diameter.
He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of
pebbles and poured them into the jar. He
shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course,
rolled into the open areas between the rocks.
He then asked the students again if the jar was
full. They agreed it was.
The professor picked up a box of sand and
poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand
filled up the remaining open areas of the jar.
He then asked once more if the jar was full.
The students responded with a unanimous
“Yes.”
“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to
recognize that this jar represents your life. The
rocks are the important things – your family,
your partner, your health, your children –
things that 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, 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 rocks. The same goes for your 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 your
partner out dancing. There will always be time
to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner
party, or fix the disposal.”
“Take care of the rocks first – the things that
really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is
just sand.