Keeping Our Mayonnaise Jars Full

This anecdote was forwarded to me by a friend, Ranee Ramos, who I actually haven't seen in about a year or so. I'm reposting this for her, for me and for everyone else who needs a reminder about the important things in life.

After reading this, you are likely to decide that it's safe to run The Test at home, in school, at work or anywhere you may have an audience to reach out to. A peanut butter or nata de coco jar would be just as effective, giving you the perfect excuse to consume its contents.

The Mayonnaise Jar

When things in your life seem, almost too much to handle,
When 24 hours in a day is not enough,
Remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class
and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly,
He 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 cups of coffee 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 - family,
children, health, friends, and favorite passions –
Things that 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, house, and 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.

So...
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play With your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.
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 coffee represented.
The professor smiled.
'I'm glad you asked'.
It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

Del A. Castillo: Healthy Food Advocate

At Likha Diwa, Del is wearing a red shirt; front row:
jules and leslie; 2nd row: maris and mavic; back, rodel


There are many alternatives to crispy pata. (Howling in the background.) Okay, okay. Let me qualify my statement: there are many healthy alternatives for a better quality of life. yahoo.

Health is clearly a matter of choice. And we need to make good choices. People like Del Castillo help us in our most trying, tempting moments.

Del Castillo has been a tireless advocate for healthy eating. For 13 years now, she has been operating Likha Diwa sa Gulod where fruits, vegetables, seafood, tofu, mushrooms and meat substitutes are primarily served.

The Likha Diwa menu includes traditional Filipino recipes (adobo, kare-kare, etc.) and products of Del's continuing culinary experimentations such as the vegetarian paella and relyenong tofu.

Think carrot and cucumber juices. Squid and mushroom sisig. Fish lumpia. Rice coffee. Mushroom and chili veggie meat quesadillas. Sinigang sa bayabas.

Del has personally encouraged friends and relatives to make THE SHIFT in their diets: more servings of fresh, raw, organic fruits and vegetables; the use of olive oil and yoghurt; limiting soda and fastfood intake. Good, practical choices.

Through the years, Del has also shared cooking techniques and invited countless guests to sample her product development creations. Wonderful feasts!

To complement the healthy eating, Del has been running too, easily finishing a 10K when I am just into my first Kilometer. Really, the power comes from omega-3, oranges and the pechay balls.

Likha Diwa is located along C.P. Garcia, near the University of the Philippines and Katipunan Road (1 Lt. J. Francisco Street, Krus na Ligas, Diliman, Quezon City. You may reach them at 925-55-22.