I have heard several variations of this narrative, however I have not been able to track down the source of this tale or its author.
I have heard several variations of this narrative, however I have not been able to track down the source of this tale or its author. I am sure that most of you have heard or read this story before. A teacher brings a large gallon glass jar in to the classroom. He sets it on a nearby table. Then, he pulls out a box of rocks and sets it next to the jar. He clears his throat, gestures to the rocks, and asks, Who would like to show us how much you can fit in the jar? Someone volunteers, he is summoned forward. He works quickly but carefully, astutely positioning rocks in the jar until it is satiated. Is the jar full? the teacher inquires. Yes! the students reply in strong unison. Can you fit any more in the jar? he asks. No! is the enthusiastic chorus. Next, the instructor produces a bag of pebbles, How about now? Somewhat hesitantly, another student raises her hand and is again beckoned forward. With greater care and less haste, she places a handful of pebbles at the top and by tapping, shaking, and rotating the jar, they make their way to fill the gaps below. Satisfied she has done her best, with hopeful confidence she returns to her chair. Is the jar full? the educator again inquires. Um, yes, is the students' cautious reply. Can you fit any more in the jar? he questions. No, they guardedly answer. Next, the instructor brings out a pail of sand. Many students begin to smile. How about now? he inquires. So another volunteer comes back to the table and using the same technique, filters the fine sand through the coarser maze of rocks and pebbles. The teacher gleefully asks, Is the jar full now? No one will venture a response. Whatever they might say, they fear it would be wrong. The professor ignores their silence, Can you fit any more in the jar? he questions. No answer. Without a word, the teacher reaches under the podium and brings forth a pitcher of water. Some students groan; others smile. Unable to contain himself, grinning he inquires, How about now? He doesn't ask for volunteers, but slowly he begins pouring the water into the jar. Gradually, it permeates every crack and crevice. He fills it to the top and then adds a bit more to overflow the jar. There is no doubt that the jar is now full. What can we learn from this? is his final query. Someone ventures to say, It means that no matter how much you've got going' on, you can always fit more in! No, the teacher exclaims, It means that unless you take care of the big things first, they will never get done!" I find myself dealing with the pebbles and sand in my life, topping it off with a large supply of water. However, I've discovered that it requires thinking and planning for me to handle the rocks. Those big and important things, are the ones that I find that without careful care I put off until tomorrow. Everyone is busy! All too often, our busyness distracts us from what is important, from what really matters, those things that could truly make a difference. Time Management doesn't usually bring relief or reduce stress, it just squeezes more into an already full day. Turn time management into how we spend our time, so that we do less. Multitasking is not really doing two things at once; it is merely quickly switching back and forth. Computers do this wellhumans dont. For us, it is actually inefficient and counter-productive. Keep a Time Log to fully understand what you do and how long you spend (or waste) on it; the results will likely shock you. Just Say No to some things even good things in order to protect yourself from over-committing and therefore being too busy to do anything well. Set Limits to how much you work, otherwise you will end up working as much as you are physically and mentally able, leaving no significant time for anything else. Know Yourself: I usually handle the pebbles and sand first and then attend to the rocks if there is time. This is not wise. I am handling trivial stuff at my peak, while reserving the important tasks for my low point. It takes an ongoing effort to do key tasks for times of peak energy, while doing lesser activities to slower times in the day. Do First Things First: Once you've taken steps to resume control over life's activities, there is then time to attend to the big things. Without the pressures of the little concerns, there is the freedom to focus on the important, removing us from the rut that all too easily goes from day to day, week to week, month to month, and even year to year without accomplishing much. Please join me today in putting first things first.
Submitted by Robert McNary, 4-H Youth Development Specialist
More:
Extension: Taking care of the rocks in your life - Lifestyle - The ... - Carthage Press
- About Us - Life Extension - December 19th, 2016 [December 19th, 2016]
- Real Life Extension: Caloric Restriction or Intermittent ... - January 27th, 2017 [January 27th, 2017]
- Bruce Power invests millions in maintenance | The London Free Press - London Free Press - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Extension Spotlight: The importance of a good education | Life ... - NRToday.com - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- From Confines Of Russia, Controversial Stem-Cell Surgeon Tries To Weather Scandal - RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Volm Companies' Matt Alexander Talks Light-Blocker Half-N-Half Bags - And Now U Know - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Plymouth warship HMS Argyll sets sail again after 20-month refit - Plymouth Herald - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- 'Orphan Black' Final Season Premiere Date Set at BBC America - Yahoo TV (blog) - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Radical Life Extension Is Already Here, But We're Doing it ... - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Biotechnology xpert Jamie Metzl addresses realities of genetics revolution, Feb. 9 - Vail Daily News - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- ATS Automation Tooling Systems' (ATSAF) CEO Anthony Caputo on Q3 2016 Results - Earnings Call Transcript - Seeking Alpha - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Weslaco ISD Students Re-Stripe Crosswalk to Promote School Zone Safety - RGVProud - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- There is No Limit to Human Life Extension - Futurism - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Weaving the practice of self-compassion into your life - Michigan State University Extension - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Italian company competes for $16B US Air Force jet trainer contract - Dayton Daily News - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Human Life Could Be Extended Indefinitely, Study Suggests - EconoTimes - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- DARPA hits snag in GEO satellite service plan - Network World - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- My Mother is 100. She Does't Need Andrew Weil's 'Healthy Aging' You do - The Good Men Project - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Orbital ATK Sues DARPA Over Satellite-Repairing Robots | Inverse - Inverse - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Double-blind, randomized crossover study of intravenous infusion of magnesium sulfate - PR Newswire (press release) - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- SRS's Melter 2 to be replaced | News | northaugustastar.com - The Star - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- The Next Pseudoscience Health Craze Is All About Genetics - Gizmodo - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- These Serious Marathoners Lived 19 Years Longer Than Average - Runner's World - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Why Do People Want to Live So Long, Anyway? - TIME - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- How Silicon Valley Is Trying to Hack Its Way Into a Longer Life - TIME - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Major South African coal extension project on cards South32 - Creamer Media's Mining Weekly - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- When Screening for Disease, Risk is as Important to Consider as ... - University of Virginia - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- John Killebrew: Honoring a life of service - Delta Farm Press - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- No limit to how long we could extend our lives, say researchers - EWN - Eyewitness News - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- Long life expectancy for Leopard [IDEX17D3] - IHS Jane's 360 - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- A UO lab digs into worms in the quest to lengthen human life - AroundtheO - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- L3 MAPPS to Supply Digital Control Computer System Hardware for Bruce Unit 6, Supporting Life Extension and ... - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant... - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Kambalda faces future with no nickel output - The West Australian - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- L3 MAPPS to Supply Digital Control Computer System Hardware for ... - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers (press release)... - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- This Company With Anti-Aging Drug Is Secretly Preparing For Trump's New FDA - Forbes - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Weather Radar in Amarillo Gets Upgrade - Guymondailyherald - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- PACKAGING INNOVATIONS 2017: Anti-microbial absorbent pads ... - WorldPressOnline (press release) - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- A business case for wind farm lifetime extension - Windpower Engineering (press release) - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Mount Tam With Anti-Aging Drug Is Secretly Preparing For Trump's New FDA - ValueWalk - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Derek Carr passionate about Silver and Black: 'I'm a Raider for life' - The Mercury News - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Bruce Power Life Extension Project On Top - Bayshore Broadcasting News Centre - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Derek Carr on Contract Extension: I'm a Raider for life - Just Blog Baby (blog) - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- How this Baltimore company is using AI to make supplements smarter - Technical.ly Brooklyn - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Rio cut takes the shine off Argyle - The West Australian - March 4th, 2017 [March 4th, 2017]
- Bruce Power Life-Extension Program ranked top infrastructure project of 2017 - southwesternontario.ca - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Metformin And Rapamycin: Signs Of (Extended) Life? How To Monetize? - Seeking Alpha - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- Il-76 flown beyond service life before fatal engine explosion - Flightglobal - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Your Questions About Silicon Valley's Quest to Live Forever, Answered - The New Yorker - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Cormorant, Griffon upgrade projects get new lift - Skies Magazine (press release) - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Garoppolo wants to play, open to extension - ESPN - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Refixia (nonacog beta pegol; N9-GP) approved - GlobeNewswire (press release) - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- New life breathed into decades-old dream of a Cavendish extension ... - Montreal Gazette - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Some JSTARS aircraft could fly into 2034 - Flightglobal - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Cormorant, Griffon upgrade projects get new lift - Vertical Magazine (press release) - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- The Ugly: Post #3 on the NNSA's FY2018 Budget Request - All Things Nuclear - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Kincardine Company To Add Jobs To Support Bruce Power - BlackburnNews.com - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- Latin American sisters in US 'build bridges' during 'challenging time' - Catholic News Service - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- Modernizing Nuclear Deterrents No. 1 Priority, DoD Officials Tell ... - Department of Defense - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- EXTENSION CORNER: It's crucial for producers to know how to manage weeds - Gadsden Times - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Robot Bina48 Makes a Guest Appearance at 'Stitch and Bitch' - Seven Days - June 10th, 2017 [June 10th, 2017]
- Patriots WR Julian Edelman's father would love his son to be "a Patriot for life" - Pats Pulpit - June 11th, 2017 [June 11th, 2017]
- Orphan Black: 3 Major Revelations From the Season 5 Premiere - TV Guide (blog) - June 11th, 2017 [June 11th, 2017]
- GARDENING: Harvest tomatoes before the birds do - Odessa American - June 11th, 2017 [June 11th, 2017]
- 'Orphan Black' Season 5 Premiere Recap: Life is Tough on and off the Island - BuddyTV (blog) - June 12th, 2017 [June 12th, 2017]
- Griffon helicopter replacement not in the cards for the Liberals anytime soon - Ottawa Citizen - June 12th, 2017 [June 12th, 2017]
- DFI Marketing uses new post-harvest technology with melon exports - The Packer - June 13th, 2017 [June 13th, 2017]
- Elio Motors Given An Extension To Bring Its Three-Wheeled Vehicle ... - Jalopnik - June 13th, 2017 [June 13th, 2017]
- Rec tax extension moves closer to November ballot - West Life News - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Bioverativ announces FDA acceptance of Investigational New Drug ... - EconoTimes - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Charlie Gard: European Court orders life support extension - BBC News - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Extension Spotlight: Are you ready to preserve the harvest? | Life ... - NRToday.com - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- The Case of the Missing Numbers - All Things Nuclear - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Hacking the human lifespan / Boing Boing - Boing Boing - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- CNO Richardson: Perry Frigates Only Inactive Hulls Navy Considering Returning to Active Fleet; DDG Life Extension ... - USNI News - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- USAF seeks to expand F-16 life-extension program - Quwa - Quwa Defence News & Analysis Group - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Baker proposes $500M life sciences extension - Worcester Business Journal - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Life Extension News | March 2017 Issue | Life Enhancement ... - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Pop-culture-palooza - Mountain View Voice - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Kids experience a day in the life of a scientist - Scottsbluff Star Herald - June 23rd, 2017 [June 23rd, 2017]
- A First For Jazz Technical Services - MRO Network - June 23rd, 2017 [June 23rd, 2017]