Two Glasses of Wine

Good Morning Gentle Readers,

A perfect little twist on a familiar story.....

A philosophy professor stood quietly before his class with some items laid out on the desk in front of him.

When the class began, he picked up a very large and very empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded wordlessly 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, though more reluctantly.

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,having figured out the joke, responded with a unanimous Yes!

The professor then produced two glasses of wine from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

As the laughter subsided, the professor said 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; 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, 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; get the golf balls in first. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take the love of your life out to dinner. Play another 18 holes. Do one more run down the ski slope. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the garbage disposal. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the wine represented. The professor quietly smiled.....

I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of glasses of wine with a friend.

As Always,

The Wine Commonsewer

tip of the glass to Ron L