Sugar And Spice… Among Other Things
Pray. Live. Inspire. Eat. Dream. Daily life and instances round the corner
We often reach a standoff, were we wonder what is going on in our lives. The daily cycle gets tedious and ultimately we end up questioning ourselves, our purpose and above wasting away precious time and memories.
“What is the meaning of life ?
Life is without meaning
You bring the meaning to it.
The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be.
Being alive is the meaning.”
-Joseph Campbell
Farewell, farewell! but this I tell
To thee, thou wedding-guest!
He prayeth well, who loveth well
Both man and bird and beast.
He prayeth best, who loveth best
All things both great and small;
For the dear God who loveth us,
He made and loveth all.”
- From "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 1772-1834
How many times do we look to others to make our final choices ? How many of us stand by our choices ?
These questions always haunt me especially when we take the big risk or the big decision. The struggle is whether to risk making a mistake or live by the decisions of others’, which is a risk by itself. However, in the end, risk or not…what really matters is whether we did it for us or for pleasing the rest of world ?
Whatever decision, choice or risk we take, ultimately we only matter to ourselves not anybody else. So take the risk, make the choice and stick to the decision only for yourself, because you matter the most !!!
Here is something I would like to share on this blog. I am sure many of you have come across this story, but for those of you who haven’t, do read on.
“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 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 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 your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and mow the lawn.
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.” ….”
“A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because her trust is not on the branch but on it’s own wings. Always believe in yourself.”
Sugar And Spice... Among Other Things 