A Little Parable to Ponder

I really like this little "parable" or whatever else you wanna call it. Just wanted to toss it in MLU for the heck of it:

A college professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in
front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he 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 jar of pebbles and poured them into the jar.
He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open spaces
between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full.
They agreed it was. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into
the jar and 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 cans of beer from under the table and
proceeded to pour the contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space
between the grains of 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 partner, your health, your children, your friends, 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, 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 your 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. Play with your children. Take time to get medical
checkups. Take your partner out dancing. Play another 18 holes. There will
always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the
disposal. 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. "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
beers."

(I knew you'd all like the ending and BTW ... Hey SUNRAY, where the heck is that BEER you OWE me... and, do you deliver? )