Professor of philosophy brought somehow on one of the lectures a big 5-liter jar. He showed it to students then put on a table and began to fill with stones. Each stone was rather big, but it that could pass banks through a neck.
When all stones appeared inside, and there is no free space left any more, professor asked students: Whether "It is full of bank?"
Students answered: "Yes, of course, she is stout!"
Then professor got a tin jar with peas and, having opened it, began to pour accurately it into a big can with stones. From time to time it stirred up it that peas filled all free space between stones.
Having finished, professor asked the students again: Whether "It is full of bank now?"
And students once again answered it: "Yes, of bank it is full."
Now professor pulled out a box with sand and began to fill up it in the can. Small grains of sand without effort passed between big stones and small peas and gradually filled all free space which between them remained. At last, sand closed itself all cracks and emptiness to the very top.
And professor once again asked audience: Whether "It is full of him bank this time?"
And students told: "Yes, now she is absolutely precisely stout!"
And here professor got from under the table a mug with water and began to pour it in bank. Water filtered through sand and everything flowed away in it, to a last straw. In hands of the teacher there was only an empty mug.
Students laughed.
On it their professor told:
- I want all of you to understand now: bank is not just a vessel, it is your life. And its contents are with what you fill it.
Stones which I now here put - the most important values in your life. All this what does it full and gives it sense that supports you even if you will lose all other, not such important and valuable. Stones are a family and your children, health, friends.
Peas are those things which matter personally for you. Your work, the house, the car or giving, money or prestige in life …
And sand - all this other trifles which can be for you pleasant and interesting.
So understand now: if to fill to bank at first with sand, then in it there will be at all no place where it would be possible to put stones and peas. As well in life - if you will spend for nothing all the forces for trifles and trifles, let and pleasant, you will not have enough forces and energy for other occupations. In your life there will be no place for more important things. Therefore pay the attention and time to what really makes you happy: play with the children, be careful and gentle to the beloved, leave time for meetings with friends, be engaged also in what supports and strengthens your health and soul.
You will always have still time that you could earn money and clean up the house, wash the dishes and repair the car, do that you not really want, but what your status and situation among acquaintances depends on.
Remember that the main thing is stones, be engaged first of all in them, these are the most important things in your life. Find also what is appreciated by you personally and allow time for these affairs too. And all the rest - only sand.
Students listened carefully and were thoughtful, reflecting over the words of the teacher.
And here one girl raised a hand and asked professor: "And why he tells nothing about water? What it matters?"
He smiled and answered:
- I am glad that you guessed to ask me about it. I poured water in bank to show you that kind of you were not busy and what saturated and full was not your life, in it there will always be a place for idle carrying out time and usual inaction.
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