2 Beers

So I received this email today and it really got me thinking...

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.

When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls..

He then asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly.

The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full.

They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.

Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full.

The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed..

'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life..

The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else---the small stuff .

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents.

Take time to get medical checkups and take care of yourself.

Play another 18 and enjoy life.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter.

Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented

The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.

The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.

The chapter I am about the close is going to change the way I live my life. For the last 2 years I have made work a priority. It has allowed me to keep my mind off of the things I didn't want to think about. I've done a very good job of putting all of my time and energy into work. While my workaholic tendencies are not something that are just going to go away, my new job will hopefully give me the flexibility to spend more time with the people who are important to me doing the things that matter most. Especially a few beers with friends. Cheers to that!

2010 Horoscope

Oh, big playful Leo -- how the last couple of years have been dramatic (and often less than kind) for you! There's little doubt that whatever you've gone through in the last year, the uppers have fueled your inherent charm and lovability, and the downers have gotten a little ignored. That's one of the problems with being a Leo: you can be so sunny that no one notices the rainy days. Mars in your sign this spring is going to give you newfound energy and motivation to really get things done your way, and the summer will bring new opportunities to express yourself.

The challenges will be slowly changing from big drama to smaller, more manageable issues. You've probably been too busy taking care of others to really take care of yourself lately, but 2010 marks a new direction in taking yourself seriously, and taking care of yourself with the due diligence and concern you usually reserve for others. Don't think of it as becoming inwardly-focused; think of it as doing the necessary maintenance on yourself so you can do a better job of letting your light shine for others.

Life is going to be taking a turn for the philosophical in the next year. All of the noise and confusion of the last year may have made you neglect your Higher Self; that too should be a part of your personal care regimen. This year is going to provide ample opportunities for you to get caught up on your spiritual homework. And, unlike regular homework, you'll probably feel like there's a point to doing it!

Saying Goodbye

Memorial day this year took on a whole new meaning for me.  Its never a good thing when the phone rings at 7am. Its either work calling or family telling me something is wrong or someone is in the hospital. This time it was my mom, when I said hello I could tell she had been crying. For some reason, even before she said it I knew... My grandfather had passed away. 

While this was not a surprise, it still is hard news to hear. The last year has been rather difficult for him with the health issues and surgeries and dialysis and everything else. But I still just couldn't believe it. My grandfather is my hero, my superman. He has endured so much, worked so hard, and through it all had a great sense of humor. The last time he was in Froedtert, he told my grandmother he didn't want to go back. And she understood, so she took care of him.  She worked with the home nurse to make sure he was taken care of, and took him to dialysis every week.   The love he shared with my grandmother is so wonderful, there are no words to truly explain their relationship. Even after 56 years of marriage, they were still so very much in love.  You could see that every time they would look at each other. And they passed that love onto everyone who knew him.

Yesterday, the outpouring of support from friends and family was so wonderful as we all gathered to say goodbye. And its that support that helps those of us he left behind, Because even as much as you prepare yourself, you are never truly ready to say goodbye.

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Its just the beginning

2009 has already proven to be an interesting year... Here we are 18 days in and have already gone through a roller coaster of events and emotions.

 After recovering from a busy holiday and ringing in the new year with a relaxing night with family and friends, I was certain it was going to be a slow start to the year. After all, doesn't how you spend new year's eve pretty much set the precedence for how the year is gonna go?? Boy was I wrong...

 We started off by losing a great friend and co-worker, Chris Grant. While there are more questions than answers as to what took him away from us- it still doesn't seem real... One thing is for sure, that he will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him, especially me.

Today we received some great news, which is exactly what we needed. Ricky, also a friend and co-worker, has been dealing with CF for his entire life. He celebrated his 30th birthday last year in May with a benefit to help him pay for a double lung transplant. After months and months of waiting, he received the call today that it was his turn! I can't even imagine what he is going through right now. I know that he has so many plans for life after the transplant, but never once did he put his life on hold like so many other people in his shoes do. He works, he plays, and all while not feeling sorry for himself. He is a "superman" in every sense of the word. Tonight we are all praying for Ricky and his new beginning.