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The important things in life

by STEPHEN on SEPTEMBER 13, 2008
in INSPIRATIONAL STORIES, MORAL STORIES

A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table 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 rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook
the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled
up the remaining open areas of the jar.

He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous
“Yes.”

“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The
rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children –
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, your car. The
sand is everything else, the small stuff.”

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or
the rocks. The same goes for your 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 your partner out
dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party, or
fix the disposal.”

“Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is
just sand.”

Author Unknown

{ 669 comments… add one }

Juvie Dianne Casinto November 26, 2019, 10:49 pm

Nothing is more important than our family.

REPLY

Kellyn Thomas October 21, 2019, 1:31 pm

This is a deep, important, penetrating analogy! so true Family First!

REPLY

Denis kipruto June 19, 2019, 12:17 am

411
Like Agreed
 REPLY

fikrte April 11, 2019, 2:14 am

wow!! help to see the bright side of life

REPLY

Oliver Legandin April 11, 2019, 12:16 am

It’s so very nice i like it.

REPLY

md March 19, 2019, 11:36 pm

story is desirable

i like this very much.

it can change my story.

REPLY

Sany March 1, 2019, 12:06 pm

Simply true and all the more relevant in the modern society, thank you very much

REPLY

Kavya January 21, 2019, 11:35 am

It inspired me a lot l luv

REPLY

abelardo December 29, 2018, 8:38 pm

Yes, it is true. we need to prioritize our family first. Sometimes, in our life, we are succumb
on the happiness from outside and eventually could not escape. (that is the sand, the jar
eventually full with sand, and there is no more space for the rock which is our family).

REPLY

Phil Hackman December 9, 2018, 2:50 am

Wow….such a great piece! Just discovered this website and will definitely be visiting often.

REPLY

Goodinfo August 22, 2018, 1:50 am

Very nice Story. Truly inspiring. I must say it is not only good but it is best story I ever
have read

REPLY

Danish April 30, 2018, 3:22 pm

good story to follow our life and to focus on important things .

REPLY

Suban Limboo January 18, 2018, 9:05 pm

Wow….
411
Like Actually I was searching for the moral stories for my students, byluck i entered this
 website..and the rest is wow & wow & wow..
Good and great story.

REPLY

Siranjeevi January 16, 2018, 12:30 pm

It’s awesome..In these simple short stories you just showed what is life..

REPLY

Ebenezer December 6, 2017, 11:56 am

I agree

REPLY

Krishnaveni September 24, 2017, 8:36 am

Well said. A crisp way of setting priorities

REPLY

Elizabeth Ndanu September 11, 2017, 8:32 pm

Nice piece. Everything has a procedure in order to come out as perfect as it is, have learnt
a lot through the story.

REPLY

Sindhu mani September 11, 2017, 7:38 am

Woww.. It’s really a nice story… Good morals… Are said. In wonderful way… Really i lov it.
I won’t forget it life long.

REPLY

Sukra Lohani September 8, 2017, 3:04 am

Very nice story. I have given some of more example to my students using this story. It has
helped me in teaching also. Thank you Author.

REPLY

Samuel Clark Kofi September 4, 2017, 4:16 am

I love this story, is always true to put family first in all things we do.

REPLY

GOPI KRISHNA August 18, 2017, 4:19 am

A very good story to the present generation, especially those who know little as to how to
deal with life.

REPLY

Ajay Kumar August 14, 2017, 3:36 am

It’s very nice story and heart touchable.

REPLY

Charmaine July 27, 2017, 6:26 pm

411 Really inspiring, thank you for all these stories.

Like
 REPLY

Kathiravan vijay July 8, 2017, 11:46 pm

It’s a very motivated story. I can follow this story . This story is very beautiful.

REPLY

Deepak July 2, 2017, 2:22 pm

Good Story, We all know importance of family but the way of explaning is great, I like it so
much

REPLY

RedHood June 26, 2017, 2:28 pm

I in fact believe this has touched my skin! I have never thought to think of life as a mason
jar filled with grimy dirt and sand, topped of with some cheap beer. Really makes you
broaden you outlook on the URGENT and IMPORTANT as that one “Dr phil wana be”” was
philosophizing about in the comments previously. Plus if you think about it we all only live
once with short life’s at that. So go find a mason jar and take long hard elimination inside
it. You will then appreciate everything in life compared to the droppings you have in your
reconciled jar.!

REPLY

Keshav June 9, 2017, 1:21 am

Very good and inspirational story

REPLY

Jioko June 2, 2017, 11:54 pm

I really like this story! It really just Came to me!

REPLY

Henry daniel May 26, 2017, 9:23 am

I realy appreciate de writer he make me realized that their is something we need to care
about what a great story i just seen in eye i have read maney story i have not seen such
story is realy great and lovely.

REPLY

Zodwa May 5, 2017, 10:53 am

Very interesting story.Luv it!

REPLY

Mounika April 4, 2017, 2:47 am

Very good story

REPLY

Manas March 28, 2017, 1:16 pm

These stories should be translated in all the regional languages of the world so as they can
reach far and wide. Ill be happy to translate all these to Hindi.

REPLY
411
Like
 dimple arora March 28, 2017, 7:12 am

it was very nice….we always crying for small things.

REPLY

Eleazar March 13, 2017, 11:03 pm

This story taught me the most valuable that family is rather than spending time with other
stuff. I liked this story so much. A big thank to the author of this story.

REPLY

Tejas borkar March 5, 2017, 2:35 am

Its most wonderful stories

REPLY

Pawan February 19, 2017, 10:51 am

Realy inspirable

REPLY

Diallo wabak February 8, 2017, 8:59 pm

Very true

REPLY

benjamin Etindi February 6, 2017, 2:28 am

wow, am encouraged. MATTHEW 6:33-Seeking first the kingdom of God. amen

REPLY

Biswamitra Bej January 27, 2017, 11:17 am

This is beyond my expression Sir,

This is a story that really need for everybody’s life ……….Thaks a lot …….

REPLY

Tipu Sultan January 26, 2017, 8:20 am

Yes, this story is reality basis and it’s heart touching.

but, a very persons follow in their life.

REPLY

pia arora January 5, 2017, 10:58 am

M vry touched.. Vry inspirational story I jst luv this story..N agree with this…parents r the
first priority… Thnx

REPLY

Sarika December 14, 2016, 12:56 am

I love the story

REPLY

Liz December 8, 2016, 4:46 pm

411
Like
@Daniel cheers to your comment! indeed!
 REPLY

Sabita rai December 1, 2016, 4:15 am

Yes, 100% right….If there is no family then we feel like alone and a family is indeed we
honestly need their help at all times. Thank you for the nice and with good moral story.

REPLY

charis quainoo November 17, 2016, 8:02 am

Thanks for this site

REPLY

prakashkumar September 27, 2016, 11:58 pm

interesting

REPLY

Subhajit September 24, 2016, 11:27 am

It is one of the best stories i have read.

REPLY

Masego September 22, 2016, 10:56 am

No matter how much I stress about work, the important thing is my family. They are my
support structure all the time

REPLY

Masego September 22, 2016, 10:54 am

This is what I needed at this moment in time, thank you dearly

REPLY

Narrthana Ganesini September 9, 2016, 10:59 pm

This story really good and interesting

REPLY

Arathy August 19, 2016, 8:23 pm

I liked it. Truly inspiring story…normally people go in search of small stuff, which will not
give peace and happiness in life..the thing is..always our family is our backbone..without
the support of our family ,we cant achieve anything in our life..so give them space in your
life rather than the less valued small stuffs..

REPLY

Kiboi.R July 25, 2016, 3:34 am

Amazing story on how to live life.Thanks

REPLY

Nwadibia Igwe Abraham July 23, 2016, 3:21 am

The Prof. Is really a motivational being, Am really touch with this.

411 REPLY
Like
 Isaac June 30, 2016, 7:18 am

I liked it.. not only liked, I will follow this in my daily life.. thanks for the writer..

REPLY

R. S. Karunaratne June 26, 2016, 4:46 am

When young we gave priority to sand, pebbles and then to rocks. As adults we reverse the
order: rocks, pebbles and sand. The story is well wrought out.

REPLY

Yash June 25, 2016, 3:43 am

Very valuable and touching story

REPLY

Maxwell O Boahene June 21, 2016, 12:45 am

Very very inspiring story.

REPLY

Pankaj June 11, 2016, 9:27 am

I got some lessons on this Story.

REPLY

Pavani yadav May 6, 2016, 8:49 am

Very good

REPLY

Ankit Sanghvi May 6, 2016, 1:09 am

Thanks Great one…simple & nice

REPLY

joji April 28, 2016, 2:12 pm

I too like the story..

Good explanation

REPLY

Rocky April 8, 2016, 10:45 am

So simpler and easier-seeming to just fill your life with sand… Perhaps if once the jar is
full, your life is up, then filling up with sand would be less tempting cause it would finish a
lot faster! Also note if you know where to place them, you can fit more in by adding some
pebbles and sand at the same time as adding the large rocks.

REPLY

Saholey Odiwuor March 30, 2016, 12:50 am

The story is true. Without no shadow of doubt, there are many of impecable birth and they
end up misusing their prowes just because they take less important things to occupy the
largest percentage of their lives.

411 REPLY

Like
 vishal kumar arya March 20, 2016, 11:25 am

I fell this is reality but this type of life spending every people…….
beautiful story really…..

REPLY

Prince Skimmer March 2, 2016, 7:47 am

I love this story men

REPLY

Chileshe wallace February 14, 2016, 1:18 pm

Nice and educational story

REPLY

Kuneyi Rhakho November 4, 2015, 3:12 am

The story is really good and inspired…..

REPLY

Lyla October 21, 2015, 11:36 am

I was told this in S.S class on Friday and kids were throwing their phones away.

REPLY

Vaishali October 21, 2015, 6:08 am

The story is really very inspiring. It gives the lesson of which things are more important in
our life.

REPLY

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