The Most Important Thing in Life

A teacher named Flemings,  stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, silently  he picked up a very large and empty white 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.


He 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 questioned his students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The teacher picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else in the white jar.


Mr. Flemings then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a giggle. “Yes.”


“Now,” said the teacher, “I want you to recognize that this jar symbolizes your life.


The rocks are the important things – your family, your career, your education, your dream, your wife, your partner, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.


The pebble symbolizes other things that matter to you – like your job, your house, your car.

The sand represents everything else in your life. The small stuff.”


The teacher then explained:


“If you put the sand into the jar first, there will be  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 and fix the disposal.


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


Do you think that the most important things in our life should be handled first? What are the most important things in your life? How can you set your priorities well in order to achieve it? Use the Facebook comment box or the comment box below. Please take five minutes of your time to share this to friends. Thanks for stopping by.