When you feel overwhelmed, and life seems almost too much to handle, remember this story of the mason jar and a cup of coffee. There are many versions of this story; here's mine.

A philosophy professor stood before his class with a large empty mason jar. He filled the jar with golf balls and 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, and the pebbles settled into open areas between the golf balls. Again, he asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. The sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students again responded, "yes."

The professor then produced a cup of coffee from under the table and poured it into the jar, filling the space between the sand. The students laughed.

When the laughter subsided, the professor explained:

This jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, children, health, friends, and hobbies. 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 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.

Take care of the golf balls first--the things that matter. Set your priorities, paying attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Meet friends for dinner. Spend time on your hobby.

There will always be time to clean the house and run that errand. The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked," he replied, "It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a cup of coffee with a friend."

Are you spending enough time on the important things in your life?

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