Another Tale Of Rock, Pebble, And Sand In A Jar
Simple Pleasures
I don’t recall when was the first time I heard the story of rock, pebble, and sand in a jar. It might have been during one of those self-improvement or motivational keynote speaker sessions organized by the company I worked for. The story’s purpose is to illustrate the art of time prioritization: rocks symbolize the most crucial tasks, pebbles retain importance but with less weight, and sand embodies trivial daily activities. By commencing with the placement of sand and pebbles, the jar's capacity for rocks diminishes or disappears. The moral of the tale underscores the significance of beginning with the rocks—prioritizing tasks that are of utmost importance and demanding the most time and effort to accomplish. This practice serves to maximize the jar's storage potential, in other words, to maximize one's potential accomplishments in life.
I remember the entire room was enlightened by the metaphor, nodding in agreement.
One day last week, I was driving to retrieve mail from the mailboxes at the front gate of our 95-home community. Dusk was setting in. As I rounded the corner at the top of the community's main road, and there, the sky opened up in front of me, painted with the golden hues of the setting sun. The expansive valley below stood in contrast to the fir trees in the foreground, while the city lights of Portland had just begun to twinkle in the distant backdrop. I steered my vehicle to the side of the road and turned off the engine. This sight, though not unfamiliar since our relocation to this Pacific Northwest community nestled in the Livingston Mountains, never ceases to amaze me whenever I drive by during this magical time of day. I am always in awe when greeted by the sprawling sky, the ever-shifting formations of clouds, and the gentle, warm golden light emanating from the sun as it lowers itself into the horizon.
I opened the door and stepped out of the car. The cool mountain breeze brushed my face gently and brought with it a soft soughing of the evergreens. The side of the road was adorned with big rocks indigenous to these mountains, likely excavated during the development of the community. These rugged rocks were surrounded by pebbles and rested upon sandy soil. Somehow, the image and story of rock, pebble, and sand in a jar came to mind.
But this time, I experienced a different enlightenment.
If our life were the jar, and the rocks were the significant milestones like admission to a prestigious college, graduating with an advanced degree, securing the first job, receiving a promotion, getting married, purchasing the first car and first house; and pebbles were a faster car, a bigger house, a new title or certification; and sand was everyday moments like this, a good book, a mind-clearing walk, a talk with friends, a meal cooked for someone you love, savoring a cup of tea (coffee), and quiet moments with yourself … What fulfills our lives? What fulfills us? The rocks and pebbles, or the sand?
Rocks are prominent, they can be noticed and counted. Can they completely fill a jar? It is always the sand that completes the jar.
What completes your jar? What are the moments that truly count and bring joy and peace to your life?
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Very interesting enlightenment. Little sand brings great enjoyment :)
Indeed, our lives are enriched by both the significant and the subtle moments. Setting priority straight is very hard for me, I think I have to spend my whole life working on it, yet no confidence achieving it, but I do tell my kids to set priority straight everyday in hope of they can do better than me;)