Image Source: Flickr
I am bit overwhelmed as some of you right now. Little P (now 2 years old) has been getting molar tooth, so sleeping is on and off during night, sleep is scarce. R is in Kindergarten and has lot of curious questions. Between teaching, homeschooling, cooking, laundry, cleaning and entertaining kids is keeps me occupied to do much else. In addition, we are recovering from stomach bug that lasted for days, so life is busier than ever! The more I fight it, the more harder it becomes for me. I have become un-zengirl to need to reclaim my mental piece of mind again!
As I was sitting down to my mini meditation (that is all I have time for), I remember a story that one of my teacher shared when I was in school. Now, this story has been told by many and a few different way so you might have heard it somewhere. Here is what I remember, it may inspire you as it did to me just now! We all need moral and inspiring stories when chips are down.
How to Fit Important Things In Your Life:
One day Mr. Bharod Sir brought a large box filled with stuff as he wanted to share something. He was one of the best teacher that all of us liked. He always gave advise and suggestions with real life example which made sense to many of us!
Bharod sir took out, a large glass vase on the table. We all wondered what this was about and everyone tuned in to see what came next. He filled glass with large rocks from the cardboard box he was carrying. The 6 large rocks filled the vase., then he stopped and asked us;
“Do you think this vase is full?”
Some of us were confused as it might be a trick question but most answered”
“Yes!, of course it is full sir:”
He said “Are you sure about that?” and he proceeded to fill the vase with large rocks with smaller pebbles. Of course, the pebbles went in corners and sides between the space between rocks and he was able to put quite some pebbles.
Then again he asked: “Is this vase full now?”
This time whole class was quite as it looked full but all of us knew, Bharod sir had something up his sleeves. So he waited for awhile and said ;
“Let’s see, if anything more will fit”.
He begin to pour sand on already full Vase with rocks and pebbles, and sure enough sand was able to fit in and it filled the vase. After no more sand could fit in, he asked again;
“Do you think this vase is full?”.
We did not think anything else would fit in the vase anymore so all of us said “Yes, the vase is now full!, nothing else can go in now”.
He smiled and said “Are you sure?”
Then in our surprise he took, the water bottle and started to pour in to a vase that has rocks, pebbles and sand already. Interesting enough, he was able to fit in whole bottle inside as sand and pebbles made room for water inside.
He then looked at all of us, and he said there was a reason he wanted to show us so we can learn moral from it, not only for the class and studying but also later in the life.
Bharod Sir said:
Vase represents our life where we try to fit thing in to live
Rocks represents our family, spouse, parents, kids, your health and so on.
Pebbles represents jobs, money, car, house and so on.
Sand represents everything extra such a nice perks, vacations and so on.
He said further as we were listening, “In your life, even if you have family and lost everything else, you life will be filled and everything else is small stuff, if you lose it you can replace it or find another. Be nice to your family including your parents, siblings, and spouse and kids when you have them.
There always will be time to clean house, make money, or climb the ladder of success! Take care of your health and your loved one first that is more important.”
He went on to say: “If you would have tried to fill your life vase with career, car, money and other extra stuff first, you would not have been able to put large rocks representing your family. It will not fit in any other way than what I have just shown you. Eat Healthy, sleep well and love your family first.”
All of us were listening and being inspired by it. But one of my nosy and curious friend asked “what was the water you added represents?”
Bharod sir said: ” It just goes to show that no matter how busy your life is, take time to drink fresh water” 🙂
I had forgotten this story as this happened many years ago, but as I was thinking back on my life and people who have influence over my life, Bharod sir and his story came to me, just the right time. Although he was my Math and Physics teacher, he taught us much more about life and compassion. I had never seen him get upset or angry. He talked to all of us students, even some poorest ones to rich one in same caring manner.
There are some people who inspires us, even years after. I do not know where Bharod sir is right now, but my heart is thankful for him being my teacher to influence to me in positive side. I have since then heard other versions of the story, but by far my favorite is the one I first heard it from Bharod Sir and I hope you like it too.
Moral of the story:
- Take care of your health today, be kind to your self.
- Give your spouse back rub just because. Tell her/him you love them.
- Give your kids hugs, even if they are not sleeping through the night.
- Call your mother and say thank you. No need to wait for Mother’s day.
- You can clean house later
- You can blog later
- You can make money later on
- You can take vacation later when things are better
- Forgive yourself
- Do not try to find success, find family and love of family first!
Here to wishing happy family moments to all of you.
Check out other related articles:
Power of Gratitude can do wonder!
Are We Honest with Family and Friends?
10 Simple Things that make me happy!
Do you know your values? Part 1 and Part 2.
Zengirl
Pingback: Finding your core values: Part 1 | Heart and Mind
Pingback: 10 simple things that make me happy! | Heart and Mind
Preeti: What a great story and message. I think you are so right that we have to keep the important things top of mind and not get caught up in all the things we feel we have to do and take care of. Great message. Thanks for sharing it. It is a great way to start the day.
Preeti,
This was great! I had heard this story before but like you, I’ve forgotten it. Thank you for reminding me of what’s truly important in life!
That is a powerful story that simply cannot be told enough, Preeti. When the large rocks are in place it seems to me the other things fill in quite naturally. Thank you for sharing your heart.
That’s an inspiring story – all the more so for being simple. It speaks to us all at a level we understand. It is so easy to get caught up in trying to do everything. As your story shows you CAN do everything if you concentrate on the important things first. The rest will fit around your priorities. But woe betide us if we set our priorities wrong.
Your teacher was a wise man, Preeti.
I have heard this story before. It’s a great reminder for me right now. I can just imagine how busy you must be. I’m going through a temporary phase where the tasks on my plate sound like what you are having now. I have little time for much else. And I so agree with doing the important things first. And closing one eye to the pile of clothes waiting to be folded and ironed.
Evelyn,
This story is famous and has many versions, when I first heard it I thought it was so inspiring even now. Life with 2 little boys, at home for is busy to say the least. That is why my blogging is always been on slow side and that is just fine with me, but still I need to take time to relax when life happens.
I hope you have some break too, it is okay sometimes to take a break and fold clothes next day 🙂 You’ll still be good person and mom! I know so.
Dawn,
If one teacher had made any long lasting positive influence on me, other than my mom (who was also teacher), is Bharod sir. Story he told is well known but it was not when I first heard it. Simple things in life are always more precious. I have to remind myself when my heart and mind starts want everything perfect in my life. :_-)
Rob,
You are so right, we need to put large rocks (aka family and health) first, but many of us, including myself occasionally try to put small pebbles and sand first and we wonder why life feels so overwhelming. I am glad to share this inspiring story.
Angela,
Yes this story has many versions and all of them equally inspiring. It is funny, when we first heard it from our teacher, I thought it was unique, even now I find it special to me as it is a reminder of a good physics teacher, who taught us much more than physics and math! How is life with you?
Sibyl,
I need frequent reminder still, as I myself get caught in popularity game of life and it is much simpler than that. Life with little 2 boys can be wonderful or chaotic how we look at it and I needed a reminder to see what is important in my life. It sure is good way to start day as you said!
Preeti,
Thanks for the reminder not to forget what’s important, even when life gets overwhelming at times.
Betsy,
Yes, I need these reminder myself a lot 🙂 I write many of these posts of myself, as I am the one who needs all the help! How is life with you?
Hi,
Wow, hehehe, my mother always used to tell me this story, I never thought I would ever read it on the internet, this is a very pleasant surprise. The story is a very good lesson, it’s a very valuable lesson for everyone, it’s a story that must be on school books in my opinion. Thanks for sharing!
Joshua,
I have come to realize now that this is popular story, once I thought I only knew it. Regardless of it, it is sure inspiring and motivational. I think everyone in school, life should know it. Thanks for stopping by.
Oh such a wonderful and true story! It’s one we should all try to remember especially when have think we have too much going on to get anything else done. Things jump into our lives when we least expect it and if we’re too busy, there’s going to be no room to handle the unexpected. Family should always come first and everything else after that. Thanks for reminding us of what’s really important.
Hope you are all feeling better now.
Marcus,
Yes, we are all doing better now, Thanks for asking. Sometimes when we get sick, we are forced to take time off and rest. It works strangely sometimes. Family and friends are important rocks in our lives.