Pebbles, Rocks and Sand – A Metaphor for Life

Whatever choice you make makes you.

Choose wisely.

                               ... Roy T. Bennett

 

Let’s imagine a large glass jar. Next to it, a bowl of rocks - about 2 inches in diameter, a bowl of small pebbles, and a bowl of sand.

Let’s imagine that we pour the sand into the jar. It fills a good portion of the jar.

Next, we pour the pebbles in on top of the sand.

At this point, the jar is almost full, leaving little room for the rocks.

Now, let’s create a different scenario.

This time let’s begin with the rocks, which easily fit in the jar.

Then, as we add the pebbles on top and shake the jar, the pebbles fill in the spaces between the rocks.

Finally, we add the sand, and as we shake the jar, the sand filters down between the pebbles, and everything fits nicely in the jar.

The jar is a metaphor for life. – the time and space we have available to us.

The rocks are the most important things in our lives – our family and other relationships, our health, our personal wellbeing.

Pebbles are other things that matter too, such as our job, our education, the expression of the skills that we were born with, actions inspired by a sense of purpose.

Sand is the small stuff, ways we spend our time on activities that do not add significant value to our lives but take up time and space in our day, including hours of  TV watching. Most possessions fit here, also.

As I think about my life, I realize that I often get caught up in the pursuit of information that interests me. I seldom ask myself if this is a good use of my time. In looking back, I realize that I have allowed my various interests to take priority over activities that support my relationships with family and friends who matter most to me.

With that realization, I am reevaluating my priorities, no longer just following an interest without considering how I could use my time in a more fulfilling way. This is a shift to a new way of looking at my life, and it is a process that will unfold over time.

As I begin the process, I want to share a few thoughts

• This is not about right or wrong. It is about clarifying your priorities.

• Most of us get off track. Realizing it is the first step to shifting how you spend your time.

• Change of any kind is a process, so be patient with yourself.

You get to decide what the pebbles, rocks and sand represent for you.

You also get to decide if you want to make a change in how you spend your time.

Whatever decisions you make, we wish you a peaceful and fulfilling journey.

     Photo by Kier In Sight on Unsplash

 

What are your thoughts? Please leave a comment below.

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We’re grateful that you are on this journey with us.

With love from our hearts to yours,

Pat and Larry