Two Beers from Joyce

Here’s something I remember from college chemistry class: (This has nothing to do with beer.) First of all, we had a duck pond on campus and the professor decided to demonstrate that detergents (not soap) dissolve grease and that they work just as well in cold water as in hot. Ah, this was a time when we debated such things as soap vs. detergent. Anyway, the professor took a goose from the duck pond and bathed it in detergent. He then placed the goose in a tub of water. Poor goose, floundering in that tub, his feathers soaking up water. The demonstration was complete, the professor, however, being so smart, was stuck with the goose until it regained the oil necessary to keep him afloat. (Did this lead to sea birds rescued from oil spills by washing them in DAWN detergent?)

Why did I think of this? The following story did it. Well, mainly it was people’s response to the story. Some said a philosophy professor would never offer such a motivational demonstration. (An enlightened philosophy professor might.)

Originally I thought this story belonged to the blogger where I first saw it printed, however I found the story plastered all over the internet, so it seems fair game. This is from The Colorado State University site.

The Mayonnaise Jar & Two Beers

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.

When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and filled 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 the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full.

They agreed it was...

Next the professor 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 Beers 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 family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and 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.

“Spend time with your children.

“Spend time with your parents.

“Visit with grandparents.

“Take time to get medical checkups.

“Take your spouse 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 Beer represented.

The professor smiled and said, “I'm glad you asked.

“The beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers with a friend.”

 

P.S. I just noticed today’s date. December 1, 2012, exactly three years ago today we landed in Hawaii—supposedly our BIG MOVE. The BIG MOVE, though, was moving away.

And now being December and 24 days until Christmas, YIPES, you might have gifts to buy--and you might find something on our eBay stores, especially if you have need of a child's gift. Hint, Legos. 

1.   Daughter sells Legos—great Christmas gifts. ID = nbrancaccio

2.   Daughter and I sell Lego Duplo—that is the young child’s version of Legos, bigger pieces, easier to handle, no choking hazard, and cute, cute, cute. Also we are carrying children’s clothing and girl’s junior jeans. ID = wiggly wombat

3.   My site began with Lego Duplo’s, and has some miscellaneous listings as well. ID= douglasfir541

Look under SEARCH advanced (upper right), By seller (on left side of page)

Aloha from Joyce