family and kids

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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.