When thinks in your life seen almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember this story.

A professor stood before his philosophy class with some items n a table in front of him.  When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large, empty jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks.  He then asked his students if the jar was full.  They agreed it was.

So the professor then picked up a bowl of pebbles and poured them into the jar.  He shook the jar lightly.  The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the rocks.  He asked the students again if the jar was full.  The agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a bowl 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 sand 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 rocks are the important things: your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passion.  Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, you 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, there is no room for the pebbles or rocks.  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.  Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.  Play with your children.  Take time to get medical checkups.  Take your loved one out to dinner.  Play another 18 holes.  There will always be time to clean the house, and to fix the disposal.  Take care of the rocks 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.  "I'm glad you asked," he said.  "It just goes to show you that no matter how fully your life may seem, there's always room for a cup of coffee with a friend."