My favorite lesson about life....THE TWO GLASSES OF WINE...
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 2 glasses of wine...
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.
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 a unanimous yes..
The profess or then produced two glasses of wine 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; 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. Do one more run down the ski slope. 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 wine represented.
The professor smiled. I'm glad that 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 glasses of wine with a friend.
Cancer continues to affect us all. I first started riding to support my long time friend and college roomate, Jim Samsel, who at the age of 42 was diagnosed with lung cancer. How can an otherwise healthy, non-smoker, be diagnosed with such a horrible disease? Feeling helpless, I started to ride the PMC. After a long battle, 'Jimmy S', the father of 2, lost his battle. Since then, riding in the PMC is my only way make sense of it all. By riding in the PMC, I am moving the needle forward to finding new treatments and cures. While this is my 22th year, don't expect this one to be my last. I have been humbled your past support. I hope you will contibute to this important cause this year as well.
Larry
