The Mayonnaise Jar: A Valuable Lesson About Priorities and Happiness
I’m not sure who originally told the mayonnaise jar story, but this powerful lesson has been replicated over the years and there are now quite a few versions to be found on the net.
Regardless of its source or how it’s been changed, the mayonnaise jar story shares a valuable lesson for a happier life. This powerful and motivational message encourages students to recognize and value the important things in life.
The balls and other items that are added to the jar demonstrate how to prioritize the different things that happen in a day.
We enjoyed this video by Meir Kay and hope teachers use the mayo jar activity to share this important lesson with their students.
Video Transcript for The Mayonnaise Jar Lesson:
Professor: Good afternoon everyone.
Students: Good Afternoon.
Professor: We all have this one life to live. A fleeting shadow amongst all that exists in this vast universe. We have the ability to accomplish anything, truly anything, if we use our time wisely.
Professor: Is this jar full?
Students: Yes
Teach Students How to Create Their Own Happiness by Being Kind to Others
Get ready for one of the most joy-sparking activities your classroom will ever experience.
These Compliment Bookmarks aren’t just a creative craft, they’re a stealthy kindness mission that turns your students into undercover agents of good vibes. After designing their heartfelt bookmarks (fine motor practice and expressive writing!), students embark on a covert operation: sneakily hiding their creations in library books for unsuspecting readers to discover.
They feel like kindness ninjas and you’ll feel the buzz of excitement ripple through your room.
Professor: Is it full now?
Students: Yes
Professor: And how about now? Is the jar full now?
Students: Yes
Professor: Now I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. Golf balls are the important things: your family, your friends, your health, and your passions. The pebbles are the other important things: your car, your job, your home. The sand is everything else. It is just the small stuff.
Professor: Now if you put the sand in the jar first, you won’t have room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same is true in life. If you spend all your energy and your time on the small stuff, you won’t have time for all the really important things that matter to you.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Take care of the golf balls first, the really important things. Set your priorities, because everything else is just sand.
This Gorgeous Kindness Quilt is Another Activity Reminding Kids of the Positive Behavior That Creates Joy
Every kindness quilt is one-of-a-kind, just like the kids who create it.
With ready-to-color pieces, blank templates, and a Google Slides version for digital classrooms, students can add their own quotes, drawings, or kind messages in a way that feels personal and meaningful. Some kids write affirmations, others doodle something cheerful, with every square offering a little piece of who they are.
When all the pieces come together, you’ll have a warm, visible reminder of the kindness growing in your classroom. It’s a display that makes students feel seen, proud, and part of something bigger. And it keeps kindness front and center all year long.
Student: Professor, what does the beer represent?
Professor: I’m glad you asked. It goes to show that no matter how full your life may seem to be, there’s always room for a couple of beers with a friend.
If you like the The Mayonnaise Jar story, you might also like to watch this video for another self-worth lesson.