Subject: The Law of the Garbage
Truck
Beware of Garbage Trucks
by David J. Pollay
How often do you let other people's nonsense change your
mood?
Do you let a bad
driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee
ruin your day?
Unless you're
the Terminator, for an instant you're probably
set back on your heels.
However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly he/she can
get back her focus
on what's important.
Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson.
I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi
cab.
Here's what happened.
I hopped in a taxi, and we
took off for Grand Central Station.
We were driving in
the
right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out
of
a parking space right in front of us.
My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other
car's back end by just inches!
The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big
accident,
whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at
us.
My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was
friendly.
So, I said, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your
car and sent us to the hospital!
And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, 'The Law
of the Garbage
Truck.'
Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of
garbage, full of frustration,
full of anger, and full of disappointment.
As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump
it.
And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to
dump on you,
don't take it personally.
You just smile, wave, wish
them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did. So this was
it:
The 'Law of the Garbage Truck.'
I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right
over me?
And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other
people: at
work, at home, on the streets?
It was that day I said, 'I'm not going to do it
anymore.'
I began to see garbage trucks. I see the load they're carrying. I
see them coming to drop it off.
And like my Taxi Driver, I
don't make it a personal thing; I just smile,
wave, wish them well, and I move on.
One of my favorite football players of all time, Walter Payton, did
this
every day on the football field. He would jump up as quickly as he
hit the ground
after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit. Payton was ready to
make the next play his best.
Good leaders know they have to
be ready for their next meeting.
Good parents know that they
have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and
kisses.
Teachers and parents know that
they have to be fully present, and at their best
for the people they care about.
The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks
take over their day.
What about you? What would
happen in your life, starting today, if you let
more
garbage trucks pass you by? You'll be happier Here's my
bet.
So.. Love
the people who treat you right.
Forget
about the ones who don't.
Believe
that everything happens for a reason.
If you get
a chance , TAKE IT!
If it
changes your life , LET IT!
Nobody said
it would be easy...
They just
promised it would be worth it!