Read this well . . .
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 one can get back
their 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. Like in the movie "The Sixth Sense," the little
boy said, "I see Dead People."
Well, now "I 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. Leaders 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?
Here's my bet. You'll be happier.
Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, 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!
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