A friend's message

Today was just one of those days when I realize how much I do love being in my own little world, I remember what and who is important in my life and why I love and cherish my husband, my son and dear friends . I miss my friends who live so far away. I miss my army son. I would be lost without my husband's calming voice and that hand of his which has held mine so many times in the past 6 weeks.
I thank my friends, who call you during the week, email just to email a cherry message or like the wonderful email I received from my friend "Cathy". Even though our lives have taken us to different parts of the world, we still know what messages we need to send each other.

Then ,there were the moments today when you deal with the outside world- when you need information or help with a problem and that person could care less , you are just a voice, they are part of bureaucracy- they fail to do their job and create havoc in your life just because they do not care.

I cared about people for a long long time in my life- whether I knew them or not, I cared about them and I cared about my profession. So the story below came at such an appropriate time in my day and in my life.

Thanks, Cathy for being a dear friend and sending me this ...

The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee

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 cups of coffee.

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 an unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee 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 time to get medical checkups.. Take your other half out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the drains. 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 coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad you asked."

The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."