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Do we in this hurried lifestyle always take time to enjoy the little things? Usually not, is my guess. We tell ourselves tomorrow. Next week. Next year. In the fall. Winter vacation. When the kids are in college. You name, it we have about a million reasons not to celebrate the smallest gestures which ultimately create our happiness and perhaps just a little more satisfaction in life. 

It seems it’s never the big events—although memorable in many ways—which usually occur with much fanfare and expectation—and can so often disappoint. As we begin the “official” summer season with the celebration of last week’s summer solstice, I urge you to plan a few simple, even spontaneous, cook-outs—picnics—camping—hiking—boating—swimming—car rides—parks—or adventures to see a few old friends—or new friends. Perhaps having cup a coffee or hamburgers on the grill might be ‘just what the Universe ordered’.  

I don’t know the original author. The Mayonnaise Jar is an old favorite of mine. Maybe yours, too? Needless to say, a good reminder to enjoy the moment. At the end of the day, it is these moments that make our life special—and so worth living our life. And summer is a perfect time for memories. If not now, when?

“When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar… and the coffee…

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items 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 golf balls.  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 rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.  He then asked the students again if the jar was full.  They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box 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 an unanimous “yes.”

The professor then produced two cups of coffee 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 golf balls are the important things-your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions-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, and 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 golf balls.  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 partner out to dinner.  Play another 18.  There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.  Take care of the golf balls 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.  It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.”

About Cathrine Silver

Cathrine Silver, HC, AADP, is a Shaman, Certified Holistic Health Counselor, and intuitive in private practice in Lauderdale by the Sea, Florida. She works collaboratively with clients on their desires regarding disease through a process called biological decoding. She writes about relationships, spirituality, and loss and help others through theirs.  Suffering through her own loss in 2005, Cathrine motivates and empowers others to be the heroes in their own lives, becoming fully responsible for their own happiness, joy and well-being.

Cathrine holds a degree in Speech Communication from the University of Washington, is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and holds certifications in Reiki, Matrix Energetics, Hypnosis, Biological Decoding and Grief Counseling and is a Shamanic practitioner.  She is the author of the book, Riding the Light Beam: How Any Woman Can Find the Hero Inside.

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Decoding Our Lives Podcast – Pending

Filed under: 2024, Adventures, Change, Choices, choice point, COMMUNICATION, Compassion, Consciousness, Empowerment, Food for Thought, Getting what we want in Life, Good News, Healthy Living, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Love and Life, Pleasantville, Stress reduction, Stress relief, Summer Travel Adventure, Summer Vacation Travel, Well-being | Tagged: BBQ, Enjoying the moment, Healthy Lifestyle, healthy living, Lifestyle, Picnic, Simple pleasures, Summer Adventures not Going as planned, Summer celebrations |