Big Rocks

Wallace’s Weekly Wrap

Happy Friday you wonderful humans.

Today’s wrap is a little story that most of you would have heard before. If you haven’t then you’re in for a treat. If you have, then I’m sure you’ll remember it fondly. Both for it’s simplicity and it’s value.

Before I start, it’d be remiss of me to forget to remind you of a few events happening this weekend. Tomorrow mornings 8am VGT at Fishermans Beach. The sun will be out, come for a fun sesh and a splash. Afterwards a bunch of us will be heading down to Pt Leo for the Disabled Surfers Association Event. Where our very own Rye Man will be jumping on a board. It’s an incredibly rewarding event and if you can get there to volunteer I’d reccommend it highly. On Sunday at 4pm we will be running a Goal Setting Workshop at Virtus. Come on down to solidify your good intentions for 2020 and beyond into an actionable, strategic plan.

Time for a little narrative to kick off your day.

‘A philosophy professor once stood up before his class with a large empty jar. He filled the jar to the top with large rocks and asked his students if the jar was full.

The students said that yes, the jar was indeed full.

He then added small pebbles to the jar, and gave the jar a bit of a shake so the pebbles could disperse themselves among the larger rocks. Then he asked again, “Is the jar full now?”

The students agreed that the jar was still full.

The professor then poured sand into the jar to fill up any remaining empty space. The students then agreed that the jar was completely full.

Finally, the professor pulled out a couple of beers. Tipping them into the jar, watching as the liquid filled the empty space inside the jar.

The rocks, the pebbles, the sand, and the beer all represent different parts of our life.

The big rocks represent the most important parts of your life. Your family, community, friends and your health. 
The pebbles represent the things in your life that are important, but you could live without. These are certainly things that give your life meaning, (like your job, your house, your car and your hobbies)But they are not critical for a meaningful life. These things come and go, and are not essential to a life of meaning.

The sand represents the fillers in your life, the material posessions. These are the little things that take up your time, that you could do without. Running errands, watching TV, browsing social media. These things don’t offer much to your life, and can serve as a distraction from the more important parts.

Since I first heard this story, I have resonated with how it illustrates what is truly important in our lives. Too often we are distracted by the sand, making small decisions to substitute the big rocks and important pebbles for things that don’t add any value. Later rueing the missed opportunities and wasted time.

We all want to be successful, to find meaning, to feel fulfilled, and to be happy. We will all have different definitions for each of those things. But what is universal, is that they are all found first with the big rocks, and secondly at the pebbles.

Every decision you make is either taking you towards, or away from the life you want to live. Identify, and focus on the big rocks, the important things. You won’t regret it.

Be amazing. Have an incredible weekend, I hope to see you at VGT, DSA or the Goal Setting Workshop.

Oh, and the two beers. It doesn’t matter how full life seems, there is always time to stop, and enjoy a drink with a friend.

On Sunday we will talk little rocks, pebbles, habits and identity. And after we will done, we will head to Commonfolk for a beer together, while we celebrate Tyler Boon and Nathan Roberts performing their hearts out!

Wallace

Below: A photo of myself, and the Wizard of Aus, before Virtus was Virtus. Look back at and appreciate what you’ve achieved with the people you love. It’s a good feeling.