The Week of 2/12/07

Thought of the Week:

THE MAYONNAISE JAR AND COFFEE

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24hours 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 aged 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.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 thegolf 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 a 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."


Quotes of the Week:

"The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they are okay, then it's you."
- Rita Mae Brown

"If you can dream it you can do it."
- Walt Disney

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."
- George Bernard Shaw

"Democracy is based upon the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people."
- Harry Emerson Fosdick

"You can't turn back the clock, but you can wind it up again."
- Bonnie Prudden

Link of the Week:

Ever get a great idea or remember something you need to do in situations where you never seem to have a pen and paper around? Well, here is a service for you. Simply save this number to your phone, call it when the situation arises (assuming you have a cell phone near by), and they will transcribe your message and e-mail or text it to you. Check out http://www.jott.com/.

Events of the Week:

MVP 20/30 Club Monthly Mixer (third Thursday) - Thursday, February 15, 5:30pm at Jillian's in the Southern Park Mall. http://www.mvp2030club.org/

Good to see young enthusiastic people stick around and start a business. Adtronico ribbon cutting - Thursday, February 15 at 10:00am, 3530 Belmont Ave., Suite 10. http://www.adtronico.com/

MAD about the ARTS - Friday, February 23, 6:30pm at the McDonough Museum of Art on the campus of YSU. Tickets selling fast. For more information call SMARTS at (330) 941-2787. www.fpa.ysu.edu/smarts/