Rocks of LIfe

... Small things don't count!

Note: I received this as email and the author is unknown. I
feel it is worth making available to all. If we could live by this rule,
the world would be a much better place. Bob Ross

One day an expert in time management was speaking to a group of
business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those
students will never forget.

As he stood in front of the group of high powered over-achievers he
said, Okay, time for a quiz. Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide
mouthed Mason jar and set it on the table in front of him.

Then he produced about a dozen 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 rocks would fit inside, he asked, Is the jar full?

Everyone in the class said, Yes.

Then he said, Really? He reached under the table and pulled out a
bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar
causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the space between
the big rocks. Then he asked the group once more, Is the jar full? By
this time the class was on to him. Probably not, one of them answered.

Good, he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a
bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into
all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked
the question, Is the jar full?

No the class shouted.

Once again he said, Good. Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and
began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked
at the class and asked, What is the point of this illustration?

One eager student raised his hand and said, The point is, no matter
how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit
some more things in.

No, the speaker replied. That's not the point. The truth this
illustration teaches us is: If you don't put the big rocks in first,
you'll never get them in at all.

What are the 'big rocks' in your life?
• Your children....
• Your loved ones....
• Your education....
• Your dreams....
• A worthy cause....
• Teaching or mentoring others....
• Doing things that you love....
• Time for yourself....
• Your health....
• Your significant other.

Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get them in
at all. If you sweat the little stuff (the gravel, the sand) then
you'll fill your life with little things to worry about that don't
really matter, and you'll never have the real quality time you need to
spend on the big, important stuff (the big rocks). So, tonight or in the
morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this
question:

What are the 'big rocks' in my life?

Then, put those in your jar first!

Previously published Feb 2005