Law of Garbage Truck

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. 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 f
or 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!