The BIG ROCKS of our lives

"One day, an expert in time management was speaking to a
group ofbusiness students and, to drive home a point,
used an illustration those students will never forget.

As he stood in front of the group of high-powered
overachievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz" and he
pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouth mason jar and set it
on the table in front of him.He also produced about a
dozen fist-sized rocks and carefullyplaced them, one at a
time, into the jar.

When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would
fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?"Everyone in the
class yelled, "Yes." The time management expert replied,
"Really?"

He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of
gravel.He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar
causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into
the spaces between the big rocks. He then asked the group
once more, "Is the jar full?" By this time the class was
on to him. "Probably not," one of them answered.
"Good!" he replied.

He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand.
He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all
of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more
he asked the question, "Is this jar full?" "No!" the class
shouted.Once again he said, "Good."

Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in
until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the
class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?"
One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no
matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can
always fit some more things in it!" "No," the speaker replied,
"that's not the point."

"The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don't put
the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all." What
are the 'big rocks' in your life, time with your loved ones, your
faith, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching
or mentoring others? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or
you'll never get them in at all.

So,tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this
short story, ask yourself this question: What are the 'big rocks'
in my life? Then, put those in your jar first.