Golf balls, pebbles, sand and coffee
I had this email today:
A 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 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 a 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 God, 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. 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. "It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
Hmm... I started thinking then, is my thesis a golf ball or a pebble? I think it's a golf ball (although I only think of golf as such a waste of land so that a few people can play a game).
Anyway, I went to Tottenham campus today for the last time and emptied my locker (which means more things for me to carry). The nicest thing was that there was a lady at the graduate center who was obviously printing a very big file. We had a short chat and I knew she was printing the final version of her PhD thesis after she had her viva and made the corrections. When she knew I was just starting she wisely said, "we all begin thinking that the end is so far and hard, but we get there." I felt more relaxed after hearing this. But of course the real reason for feeling relaxed today is the fact that I managed to put together a good outline for my thesis. I am more eager now to finish my proposal in time. I just need to swing the other golf ball away- moving. And for getting through all this, I'll definitely have lots and lots of coffee :)
p.s.1
would you believe me if I told you that after 2 weeks of typical hot summer we had 3 hours of non-stop rain with thunder and lightening today? Ain't european weather great?
p.s.2
in case you're wondering, my ankle is better today, still walking or standing for too long is bad, but the biggest enemy is stairs [my room is on the 3rd floor :( but there are lifts in the building I'm moving to :) but there are stairs in my flat to go up to level 2 :( ]
Mai
A 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 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 a 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 God, 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. 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. "It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
Hmm... I started thinking then, is my thesis a golf ball or a pebble? I think it's a golf ball (although I only think of golf as such a waste of land so that a few people can play a game).
Anyway, I went to Tottenham campus today for the last time and emptied my locker (which means more things for me to carry). The nicest thing was that there was a lady at the graduate center who was obviously printing a very big file. We had a short chat and I knew she was printing the final version of her PhD thesis after she had her viva and made the corrections. When she knew I was just starting she wisely said, "we all begin thinking that the end is so far and hard, but we get there." I felt more relaxed after hearing this. But of course the real reason for feeling relaxed today is the fact that I managed to put together a good outline for my thesis. I am more eager now to finish my proposal in time. I just need to swing the other golf ball away- moving. And for getting through all this, I'll definitely have lots and lots of coffee :)
p.s.1
would you believe me if I told you that after 2 weeks of typical hot summer we had 3 hours of non-stop rain with thunder and lightening today? Ain't european weather great?
p.s.2
in case you're wondering, my ankle is better today, still walking or standing for too long is bad, but the biggest enemy is stairs [my room is on the 3rd floor :( but there are lifts in the building I'm moving to :) but there are stairs in my flat to go up to level 2 :( ]
Mai
posted by Mai at 8:30 PM
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