From info@outputinc Tue Feb 22 01:35:34 2000
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 17:06:29 -0500
From: "Output, Inc." <info@outputinc.>
Subject: for Karen from a personal friend


My name is Mike and I've known Karen for about 9 years now, her boyfriend
Steve has been my one of my best friends nearly half my life. I have only
ever known her as Karen so I hope no one gets offend that I don't refer to
her screen name. I'm please to see this outpouring of affection for Karen.
Like many have said, words fail to convey the emotions that all of us are
feeling these days so I'm not going to try and do it either. I am simply
going to pass on a little story sent to me by a friend that I think might
help everyone. Read it, think about and live it. I know now that it is the
only way live.

 The Big Rocks
>
> One day an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business
> students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students
> will never forget.  As he stood in front of the group of high-powered
> over achievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz." Then he pulled out a
> one-gallon, wide-mouthed Mason jar and set it on the table in front of
> him.  Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and  carefully
> placed them, one at a time, into the jar.  When the jar was filled to
> the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar
> full?"
>
> Everyone in the class said, "Yes."
>
> Then he said, "Really?"  He reached under the table and pulled out a
> bucket of gravel.  Then he dumped some gravel in  and shook the jar
> causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the space between
> the big rocks.  Then he asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?"
> By this time the class was on to him.  "Probably not," one of them
> answered.
>
> "Good!" he replied.  He reached under the table and brought out a bucket
> of sand.  He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of
> the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel.  Once more he asked
> the question, "Is this jar full?"
> No!" the class shouted.  Once again he said,  "Good." Then he grabbed a
> pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the
> brim. Then he looked at the class and asked,  "What is the point of this
> illustration?" One eager beaver raised his hand and said,  "The point
> is, no matter how full your schedule  is, if you try really hard you can
> always fit some more things in it!"
>
> "No," the speaker replied, "that's not the point.  The truth this
> illustration teaches us is:  If you don't put the big rocks in first,
> you'll never get them in at all."  What are the 'big rocks' in your
> life? Your children; Your loved ones; Your education; Your dreams; A
> worthy cause; Teaching or mentoring others; Doing things that you love;
> Time for yourself; Your health; Your mate (or significant other).
>
> Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get them in at
> all. If you sweat the little stuff (the gravel, the sand) then you'll
> fill your life with little things you worry about that don't really
> matter, and you'll never have the real quality time you need to spend on
> the big, important stuff (the big rocks).
>
> So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short
> story, ask yourself this question: What are the  'big rocks' in my life?
>
> Then, put those in your jar first.

What's my point in doing this? It is to hopefully make everyone see that if
we look around us, we all probably have a "Karen" in our lives right now.
Make the time so that you never have to say " I wish I had the chance to^Ê"
ever again.

To Karen, you are definitely a "Big Rock" to many, I'm glad the pain is gone.