InspirEmail

InspirEmail No 62 - June 20, 2005
'Inspirational messages to refresh the spirit and boost the emotional bank account'

Focus on the priorities in your life

One day an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and to drive home a point, used an illustration the students would never forget. As he stood in front of the group of high powered over achievers he said, 'Okay, time for a quiz.'

Then he pulled out a five litre, wide necked jar and set it on the table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, 'Is this jar full?'

Everyone in the class replied, 'Yes.'

Then he said, 'Really?'

He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the space between the rocks.

Then he asked the group once more, 'Is the jar full?'

By this time the class was on to him. 'Probably not,' one of them answered.

'Good!' he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand into the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel.

Once more he asked the question, 'Is this jar full?'

'No!' the class shouted. Once again he said, 'Good.'

Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, 'What is the point of this illustration?'

One eager student raised his hand and said, 'The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things into it'.

'No,' the speaker replied, 'that's not the point, the truth this illustration teaches us is if you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all.'

What are the 'big rocks' in your life?

Time with your loved ones?

Your faith, your education, your business, your dreams?
A worthy cause?
Teaching or mentoring others?

Remember to put these big rocks in first or you'll never get them in at all. So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question:

What are the 'big rocks' in my life? Then, put those in your jar first.

Author Unknown  



June - Featured Inspiration

Lessons from Geese

Lessons from Geese provides a perfect example of the importance of team work and how it can have a profound and powerful effect on any form of personal or business endeavour. When we use . . . read the full story >>>



'Paid in Full with Love'

A young boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was preparing dinner and he handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his Mum dried her hands, she read it and this is what it said:

For mowing the lawn - $5.00
For cleaning up my room this week - $1.00
For going to the local store for you - 0.50c
For baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping - 0.25c
For taking out the garbage - $1.00
For getting a good report card - $5.00
For cleaning up and raking the yard - $2.00

Total Owed - $14.75

His mother looked at him and the boy could see that there were things flashing through her mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and this is what she wrote:

For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me - No Charge
For all the nights that I've sat up with you when you were sick, held your hand and prayed for you - No Charge
For all the trying times and the tears that you've caused me through the years - No Charge
For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose - No Charge

Son, when you add it up, the cost of my love is - No Charge

When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were tears in his eyes, and he looked straight at his mother and said, 'Mum, I love you.' And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote: 'Paid in Full with Love.'

Author Unknown

Sharing 

When we share laughter, there's twice the fun.
When we share success, we surpass what we've done.

When we share problems, there's half the pain.
When we share tears, a rainbow follows rain.

When we share dreams, they become more real.
When we share secrets, it's our hearts we reveal.

If we share a smile, then our love shows.
If we share a hug, then our love grows.

If we share with someone on whom we depend.
That person becomes family or friend.

And what draws us closer and makes us all care.
Is not what we have, but the things that we share.

Author Unknown


- Inspirational Quote -

Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get only with what you are expected to give ... which is everything
Katharine Hepburn

View more Inspirational Quotes >>>

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InspirEmail

A monthly positive inspirational story and quote to refresh your spirit and boost the emotional bank account. InspirEmail was first published in November 2005 and each issue can be viewed in the Archived InspirEmail Directory located below the latest issue of InspirEmail


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