The Zen Master Tao stood before his students with the intention to increase there awareness for the truly important things in life, priorities. He had on a table in front of him several items. First he picked up a very large and empty jar and started 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 Master 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 more enthusiastically agreed it was.He then 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.”
Tao asked the students to see this jar as a representation of there lives up to now. The larger rocks are the important things, your health your family, friend, those 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.
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.So, focus your attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spending time with your family and friends.
Doing the things that keep you healthy and make you happy.
There will always be time to go to work, clean around, help other people or animals in need.”The Master Tao finished by saying "take care of the rocks first, the things that really matter.
Set your priorities, because the rest is just sand.”