The professor brought rocks, gravel, and sand to class to demonstrate the concept of prioritization to students. He began filling an empty mayonnaise jar with rocks, then added gravel into the gaps between rocks, and finally poured in sand to fill any remaining spaces. Each time, he asked students if the jar was full, to which they agreed. Later, the professor explained that the rocks represented the most important things in life like health, family, while the gravel symbolized comforts and the sand represented unimportant things. His message was that prioritizing unimportant things over important ones would leave no room for what really matters, just as placing sand before rocks and gravel leaves no space left in the jar.

1. Stones, gravel, and sand
(Inspiration Stories)
At the beginningof aphilosophyclassata university,professorsstoodupwithsome itemsthatlooked
dangerousonhisdesk.I.e.anemptymayonaisse jar,some rocks,some gravel,andsand.Studentsview
the objectsina curious.Theywondered,whatthe professorwantedtodoand triedto guesswhat
demonstrationwouldhappen.
Withoutsayinga word,the professorbeganputtingsmall stonesintothe mayonaissejarsone byone.
The studentswere confused,butthe professordidnotgive anexplanationinadvance.Afterthe rocks
got to the neckof the tube,the professorspoke forthe firsttime thatday.He askedstudentsif they
thoughtthe jar was full. Studentsagree thatthe jarisfull.
The professorthentookthe gravel onthe table andslowlypouredthe pebble intoajar.The small gravel
findsa gap betweenthe large rocks.The professorthenshookthe lightof the jarto allow the gravel to
settle ina gap inthe jar. He thenagainaskedthe studentsif the jarwas full,andthe studentagain
agreedthat the jar wasfull.
The studentsnowknowwhatthe professorswill donext,buttheystill don'tunderstandwhyprofessors
do it.The professortook the sandandpouredit intoa mayonnaise jar.Sand,asexpected,fillsinany
remainingspace inthe jar.Professorforthe lasttime askedhisdisciples,if the jarwasfull,andthe
answerwasonce again:YES.
The professorlaterexplainedthatthe mayonnaise jarwasan analogytolife.He equatesstoneswiththe
mostimportantthingsinlife,namely:yourhealth,yourspouse,yourchildren,andall the thingsthat
make life complete.
He thencomparesthe gravel tothingsthat make your life comfortable like yourwork,yourhome,and
your car. Finally,itexplainsthe sandare little thingsthatare not veryimportantinyourlife.
Professorexplains,placingthe sandfirstinthe jarwill cause noroom for stone orgravel.Similarly,
clutteringupyourlife withthe little thingswill cause youtohave no roomfor greatthingsthat are truly
worthwhile.
Moral message:Payattentiontoeverythingthatisessential foralife full of happiness.Take time tobe
withyourchildrenandyourspouse.Finishyour workwhenyou're inthe office,notwhileyou're hanging
out withfamily.Revenge againstapersonwill notbe beneficial toyou.Getyourprioritiesnow and
distinguishbetweenrocks,gravel,andsand.