The 128 most classic philosophical essays in the world

Chapter 6 A Thousand Marbles
[United States] Sammy Kircher

It's only when you see for yourself that your days in this world are numbered that you can truly prioritize things.

What is really important in life?Perhaps inadvertently, the little marbles will tell you this truth.

As the years go by, I like Saturday mornings more and more.On a Saturday morning a few weeks ago, as usual, with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other, I shuffled toward my basement operations room.

I tuned the radio to the talk show band for a Saturday morning talk show.Inadvertently, I heard the voice of a man, he sounded very old, his voice was loud, and it sounded like he should be in the radio industry.

He was telling a story of "A Thousand Marbles", I was attracted, stopped what I was doing, and listened to the program attentively.

He said: "Tom, you've got a busy job and you're definitely paid well, but I think it's a shame that you're away from your family because of that. It's hard to believe that a young man is working 60 to 70 hours a week. , just trying to make ends meet. Too bad you missed your daughter's solo performance.

"Let me tell you something that made me understand what I should do first and then what to do. Let me do a simple math problem for you: Suppose a person's life span is 75 years, multiply 75 by 52 (one There are 52 weeks in a year) to get 3900, and a person can only have 3900 Saturdays in his life.

"It took me 55 years to figure this out. By the time I was 55, I'd had more than 2800 Saturdays. That's when I realized that even if I lived to be 75, I'd only have about 1000 left." It's Saturday.

"I went to one toy store and bought all the marbles there. I went to two other toy stores and got a total of 1000 marbles. I put them in clear plastic bottles at home. Since then, every Saturday I have dropped a marble.

"Watching the marbles dwindle, I started to focus on the important things in life more than before. Only when you see for yourself that your days in the world are numbered can you really prioritize things.

"I dropped my last marble this morning, and if I survive until next Saturday, God has given me a little more time.

"It was a pleasure talking to you all, and I hope everyone can spend a little more time with their families. Goodbye!"

When the show ended, the room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop on the ground.His words got everyone in the audience thinking.I had planned to discuss some issues with a few radio amateurs this morning, but now I've changed my mind.I went upstairs and woke up my wife with a kiss: "Honey, wake up, I want to have breakfast with you and the kids."

She smiled and said, "How have you changed?"

I said, "It's ok, we haven't spent a Saturday with the kids in a long time. Let's go for a walk today and stop by the toy store. I want to buy some marbles."

Work hard like you don't expect anything in return; love like you've never been hurt; dance like no one is watching.Is not it good?

Heart mark notes
When time is displayed in front of us in an invisible and intangible form, we feel that there are still many days and years.And once the limited days become visible marbles, you realize that days are like marbles, and every day you pass, there will be one less.In the end, you will be empty-handed and have nothing.Therefore, we must learn to do the most important and worthwhile things first in the limited time, so as to avoid future regrets.

Cherish every minute and second in life and spend more time with your family. Is there anything more important and happier than this?

(End of this chapter)