New Year Reflections and Lessons Learned Through A Jar and Some Golf Balls

Benjamin Franklin stated, “Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every year find you a better man.” The start of a new year is a great time to not only celebrate a new beginning but reflect on past experiences.  These experiences, particularly failures, should be viewed as opportunities to learn and adapt accordingly in the upcoming year. During this reflection, we can all be thankful to have made it through another year with family and friends, despite the ups and downs. Most importantly, the New Year is a chance to re-prioritize and focus on the important things in life. Below is an excellent short story, which I stumbled upon, about placing everything in the proper perspective:

A Teacher's Life Lessons Using A Jar And Some Golf Balls

The teacher cleared off his desk and placed on top of it a few items. One of the items was an empty mason jar. He proceeded to fill up the jar with golf balls until he could fit no more. He looked at the classroom and asked his students if they agree that the jar is full. Every student agreed that the jar was indeed full.
The teacher then picked up a box of small pebbles and poured them into the jar with the golf balls. The pebbles filled all of the openings in between the golf balls. He asked the students if the jar was full. Once again, they agreed.
Now the teacher picked up a bag of sand and poured it into the mason jar. The sand filled in all of the empty space left between the golf balls and pebbles. He asked the class again if the jar was full. The students agreed it was technically full.
Finally, the teacher pulled out two beers from under his desk and poured both of them into the jar filling the empty space between the sand. Now the students began to laugh wondering how far this was going.
The teacher waited until the laughter stopped. "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life," he started. "The golf balls represent the important things. Your family, children, health, friends, and passions. If everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles represent the other things in life that matter, such as your job, house and car. The sand---that is everything else. The small stuff. If you put the sand in first, there is no room for the pebbles or golf balls.
The same goes for life. If you spend all of your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are most important. Pay attention to the important things in your life.
Enjoy time with family. Go to dinner with your spouse. Play games with your kids. There will ALWAYS be time to clean the house or take yourself shopping.
Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. The rest is just sand. You are dismissed."
Before the students left, one shouted out. "You never mentioned what the beer represents!"
The professor smiled and said, "Well I'm glad you asked. The beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room to have a beer with a friend."

Have a great New Year!!
Sincerely,
Matt Miller