Wednesday 14 December 2011

WOYWW 132 & Something To Make You Think

Morning lovely Bloggers. I hope I find you well this Wednesday morning and if not I send you wishes for a speedy recovery. Here we are with one more week of workdesks before the big day, can you believe it? I have to admit that now the decorations are up I'm feeling more festive but it still seems like 5 minutes since the Summer holidays!!

I can't wait to see what the rest of you are up to in WOYWW land this week, what's the betting that most desks are full of Christmas preparation? Mine certainly is.


I'm still in Christmas card mode although there are some finished ones now and one has actually been delivered, yes, I know...amazing. My goal is to finish them today, write these and the bought ones and post them tomorrow, well, that's the plan anyway.

If you want to see what the rest of the WOYWWer's are up to pop over to see our Desk Headmistress, Julia, HERE.

I recently came across this little gem and have been meaning to share it with you so as we are approaching a time of year when we tend to end up running around and getting stressed I thought today was the perfect moment. I know time is precious and you don't want to read reams of typing but please do, it's well worth it.

When things in your life seem too much to handle, when 24 hours in the day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.....

A professor stood before his philosophy class with some items in front of him.

He wordlessly picked up a very large, empty mayonnaise jar and filled it with golf balls before asking his class if it was full. They agreed it was.

He then picked up some pebbles and poured them into the jar, shaking it so that they 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 which of course filled up all the remaining spaces. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students all agreed it was now definitely full.

The professor then produced two cups of coffee and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now", said the Professor "I want you to recognise that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things, your health, your family, your children, your friends and your favourite 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 in 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. Play with your children, take time for health checkups, take your partner out to dinner, play 18 holes. There will always be time to clean the house and mend the shed roof.

Set your priorities. Take care of the golf balls first, the rest is just sand."

"But what about the coffee?" One of the students asked.

The Professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked that. It just goes to show that how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee."

And with that I'll say thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your week. Don't forget the golf balls and the coffee!!!

20 comments:

okienurse said...

great story/parable. It is so true! Thanks for sharing! Have a great week and Happy Holidays! Vickie #35

jude said...

Very true Lisa absolutely loved it !How true never heard that before .Anywas have fab wedensday off for cuppa coffee
hugs judex 10

Artyjen said...

Love the analogy :) So true....If only I could stick to it more....must try harder next year. LOL
xoxo Sioux

Neil said...

Hi there, just popping in to say Hi. Hope you have a great week and thanks for sharing a snippit of your creative life with us today. Great story too.
Neil #13

Lisa Jane said...

I have read that story before .. but it was good to read it again.. so true !
Hope you manage to get your cards finished .. i need to start writing mine!
Lisa x

Ann B said...

Great story - thanks for making me smile.
Ann B
#27

ScrappnBee said...

I always love that story. As I sit here, sipping my coffee (which I originally poured while chatting with my DH before sending him off for the day), I am smiling. Good luck with finishing up the cards! Happy WOYWW- Amanda 29

Sarah xx said...

Hi Lisa, what a fab tale, it made me smile - love my daily coffee, especially a Christmas Toffee nut latte :)
xxx

Jill said...

Hi Lisa. Brill story!
How your weather has improved and isn't going to be as bad as the weathermen say!!

Jill x

craftimamma said...

Brilliant post Lisa and one that was perfect for me to read today having had a day that I would rather have skipped over if you know what I mean.

However, the past week has been spent with some very important 'golf balls', lol! I spent the week with Jenna and her family ........ which now includes our gorgeous new Grandson, Yay!!!

Big hugs
Lesley Xx

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Great story - it is so true. The older I get, the more I shy away from unnecessary negativity and celebrate the positive side of life and all the silver linings that come along.
Glad the bunting arrived ok and you're happy with it. Enjoy this last week before Christmas :)
Hugs, LLJ #34 xx

Tracey FK said...

Fantastic tale... I called my daughter in to read it and she loved it too.. you have made my day so thanks for sharing...xx

May said...

Hi Lisa, o sooooo true, must try harder to stick to it, Happy crafting Hugs May x x x x x

Hettie said...

I have heard that before but it was beer! Very good though and worth remembering.
I still have some cards to make but they are the family ones which can be done in the next week as they will be delivered on Boxing Day. I am glad that you too use the b-b-b-b-bought ones! I decided it was no use beating myself up about not having made enough so bought some!! Not enjoyable if it is a chore ey!!

505whimsygirl said...

I always enjoy reading that story. Don't forget to breathe.

WOYWW #82

Di said...

Wonderful Lisa - it always pulls me up and makes me think. Thanks for the reminder, and thanks for hopping by with such kind words too! Di xx

Sally H said...

I LOVE your little story - how very true! I hope you have managed to get your cards finished. I'm off to make a couple more birthday cards for colleagues (now, are they pebbles or sand?!)

Emma Williams said...

What a wonderful story...thank you for sharing it with us, Lisa!! This is why I love coming to your blog, I'm always greeted with something that little bit different, which I adore!! :)
As always, I love seeing what you're working on and having a peek at your desk.
Sorry, I haven't been around much again, so much work and so little time, just lately.
Hope you're Christmas preparations are going to plan.
Love and hugs, Emma xxx

Julia Dunnit said...

Hey, great goofballs to ya! Marvellous analogy. As I'm so late, am going to assume you're done and smug about the cards..have you moved onto last minute presses like me?!!

Shirley Pumpkin said...

Cute Story!! TFS Happy WOYWW 132!!

Hugs
Shirley Pumpkin #63