We came across this wonderful and insightful parable online. Sometimes it’s amazing how simply — and clearly — some people can explain the most complex and important things in our lives. At AdmiGram.com, we applaud this professor!
A Wonderful Parable About Life, a Jar, Sand, and Stones
One day, during a lecture, a philosophy professor placed a one-gallon glass jar on the table and, to the surprise of his students, filled it with stones, each about the size of a plum. When he finished this unusual demonstration, he asked the class if the jar was full. Everyone answered in unison: “Yes, it’s full.”
Then he took two handfuls of small pebbles from a bag, poured them into the jar, and gently shook it. The pebbles filled the empty spaces between the larger stones. The professor turned back to the puzzled students and asked again if the jar was full. The students hesitated, but once again answered together: “Yes, it’s full.”
The professor smiled mysteriously, picked up a box of sand, and poured it into the jar, lightly shaking it from side to side. Naturally, the sand filled all the remaining space. The professor narrowed his eyes with a knowing look and asked once more if the jar was full. Some students were already confused into silence, but a few still replied that now it must definitely be full.
But the professor wasn’t finished. He pulled out a bottle of beer from under the table and poured it into the jar to the very last drop, soaking the sand. Not a single drop spilled. The entire class burst into laughter. The professor smiled too, set the jar aside, and said:
“Now I want you to understand that this jar represents your life. The stones are the most important things: your family, your health, your friends, your children — everything that is essential so that your life would still feel full even if everything else were lost.
The pebbles are the things that matter to you personally: your job, your house, your car.
The sand is everything else — the small stuff.
If you fill the jar with sand first, there will be no room left for the pebbles or the stones. The same goes for your life: if you spend all your time and energy on the small things, you’ll never have room for what truly matters. Focus on what brings you happiness: play with your children, make time for your partner, meet with friends.
There will always be time to work, clean the house, fix things, or wash your car. Take care of the stones first — the things that really matter. Set your priorities. Everything else is just sand.”
The students sat in silence, captivated. Then one student from the back called out:
“Professor, what about the beer? You forgot the beer.”
The professor smiled, raised his index finger, and replied:
“I’m glad you asked. I added that on purpose — to show you that no matter how busy your life may be, there’s always room to relax and share a good beer with friends.”
And the room filled with applause.
