As I contemplate what to write in a ‘death letter,’ to my daughter, I came across the following text.
They are not my words but I thought it important to reproduce it here for others to read. I do not know the author. If someone knows who wrote this, please let me know in the comments and I will gladly update the post and credit them.
The Important Things in Life
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,’ 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.
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 mow the lawn.
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.
I’ve read this before, great to be reminded of it xxx
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I’ve read that before but it’s something that needs to be read everyday ..thanks for posting 🙂
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It reminds me a little of that sunscreen song. Do you remember that one, Alison? It was a spoken voice to a backing tune. Life advice like: “be kind to your knees, you will miss them when they are gone. But trust me on the sunscreen.” Good advice. I am currently sporting a nose that is a good Halloween costume in itself. (I am using a cream to treat skin cancers)
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I have never heard of that song ..must be Australian ..oh no hope your nose gets better
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You can hear the sunscreen song here on youtube it is called Everybody’s Free. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/MQlJ3vOp6nI
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Thanks for your wishes on my nose. It will take a few weeks. The song has such good advice. I might write a post about it.
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Not Australian . Here is the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQlJ3vOp6nI
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Baz Luhrman made another version. Perhaps that made it seem Australian?
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Could be! My son was at university when it came out the first time in South Africa that’s why I know about the recording.
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It goes back some way but still so relevant.
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Relevant indeed!
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Thanks dear Ineke
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Oh, nice! Especially the bit about the beers. 😉
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Yeh it is a bit fun and serious too.
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I don’t know who wrote it, but I saw it somewhere recently and thought it was brilliant,
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I shared it to fscebook a few days ago. That might have been where you saw it?
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Wonderful words! Thanks for sharing!
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Many thanks, Aletta. How are you going over there this year? With all the dramas. I haven’t heard how SA is doing Covid-wise?
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I’ve read this before but it certainly bears repeating. Sorry, I have no idea who wrote it originally
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Yes I wonder who it was.
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The cumulative number of detected Covid-19 cases in South Africa is 726 823 and recoveries now stand at 655 330 which translates to a recovery rate of 90%. We are currently under Lockdown Level 1.
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That is a great recovery rate but still loads of cases! I feel lucky to be in a state with 1 case – in hotel quarantine. Life continues as normal here with the restriction on numbers over 30 and the border closed.
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Must say that in our town we have had just 1 death and about 135 cases.
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Better stats in your town.
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Absolutely 💕
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I haven’t heard that one,Iv’e heard similar I have no idea who wrote any of them. My brain went to the whole glass is half full/empty scenario at first.lol. From there I go to “who’s on first what’s on second”(abbott & costello). There I have to stop myself & the point is I don’t need any alcohol to top off my life(obviously) & i think if you have a lot of golf balls to fill a jar you are truly blessed.
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Truly blessed if you have enough golf balls. I will agree with that. We take so much for granted in this country. We should be eternally grateful just to live in a country that knows peace.
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I’ve wasted too much time letting sand fill up my jar and spent even more time shoveling it back out.
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Sometimes we all need a good cleanse of the jar and to start afresh.
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I do love that analogy.. so right..
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Amanda, nicely done. It is a great analogy. Keith
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Nice post
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