A story of priorities and a jar

We were driving along the Mississippi river this morning. The river was frozen and the sun stood beautifully in the sky. We saw numerous eagles drifting in the sky over the river. There are o many of them out here. It's a nature wonderland. 

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We had a 10 hour drive back all the way to Michigan.. we are now delayed because of the massive snowstorm. We should be home by now, but it might be a couple of more hours. Jayne is sitting with her face almost stuck to the front window of the car, because you can hardly see anything because of the snow. We're on the highway, but we're moving below 40 an hour.

I am so wiped out from all this driving. We started at 9:30 or 10 this morning, and now it's 8 at night. We stopped for a salad bar a noon, and later on for coffee.. but now I'm really hungry again.

I got to sleep for an hour.. but otherwise we have just been watching movies :) Pitch Perfect, The Great Gatsby and P.S. I love you.

I love the last movie so much, and I've tried to see it for over a year... I had the DVD at home, but couldn't find it.. and funny - I never found the time.

It's such a beautiful movie, from the original book by one of my very favorite authors 'Cecilia Ahern'. She writes about life in a beautiful, poetic way - with a twist of magic.. almost so that the book could be placed in a fantasy genre.. but the magic she writes about is always combined with the story in such a way that it seems realistic. I'd say she doesn't write about supernatural things - but the things beyond heaven and earth that we don't necessarily understand.

If you haven't already read her books, promise me to check out her work. I remember that as a 17-year old, when I started reading it.. the books changed my life. - At least in the moment I read them.

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So the snow storm is pretty bad - and it has been promised by the weather forecast that it will come to Manhattan/Long Island area this weekend.. meaning it is very likely I will have delay with my flights.

I hope I will have the easiest possible trip back though, since I am getting up fairly early Saturday for a weekend of preparing for the coming school week - full of final exams and presentations.

The week after that our showcase.

- So two weeks with double work, without much of a breather. I hope I will love the work though. I'd appreciate your thoughts for me during these weeks, since they are the most important of my whole semester.

I hope it's alright I ask for that.

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Yep, we're back now. After a 12-hour trip with a break of about 30 minutes, and 15 later on.. I am SOO tired, but satisfied because I'm lying in the best bed on earth - Bekah's (I just told Bekah, I might cry when I get back to my own bed, remembering how hard it is!).. But when you're tired you could sleep anywhere. Just like when you're hungry you can eat anything!

We just had a fantastic meal of chicken, pasta and sweet corn made by Bekah's dad. Best thing to come home to ever.

I have not been so happy to see a home in a long time.. exactly like I felt when I had finally reached the Wittenberg house after my 12 mile adventure around New York City by foot!

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This is my last night with Bekah, and it is quite strange. I was getting used to always having a best friend by my side, one who I am so grateful with in her presence and one who makes me laugh.

But most of all I've gotten used to being able to share my thoughts with someone every single day, and several times a day - just having the free time to do that.

So, when I really think about it.. I find it RIDICULOUSLY STUPID that we have to almost "schedule" time to have a talk with a friend. I know a lot of you who read this will be able to relate to this.

And seriously - isn't it the most ridiculous thing that the important value and pleasure of sharing your thoughts and experiences with another person is something we don't have much TIME to do?

I mean.. - when we have some important news, when we carry a heavy weights on our shoulders, when we need comfort from someone who knows us, when we need advice... sometimes THERE JUST ISN'T TIME!

I mean .. I have only talked to my best friend who's now in California twice in 4 months, because we're both so busy - we used to talk every week, I have not been able to send any cards or presents to both of my parents who had birthday this month.. December has not given me the time, so I have just hoped that calling me and sending my love has been enough, I have not been able to have a video chat with Susan and the Wittenbergs to thank them properly for their Christmas present and present them to Bekah and see their family, like we planned to, and I feel bad not having been able to express my thankfulness to them yet, I think they deserve more, and I just remembered that an old class mate wrote to me about 2 months ago, asking me about my life in NY and sending his luck to me in my work.. a very sweet message I haven't replied yet, because time hasn't been in my hands.

It's NOT supposed to be like this. It shouldn't.

This reminds me of a story my dad once shared with me. I think it has a very important point.

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.

     So 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-your God, your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your 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, 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. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18 holes. 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."

Be good to yourself. Remember the things that recharge you, bring you joy and love.. make time for them, because they are who you are.

How you spend your time is how you become. Saying "I'll make more time in the future.. next month, next year". Time passes, we grow up, we move, we take in new things that we must bring our attention to.

I know that's what I want to focus on for this year.

Be good, Jasmin

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