Story Time

I wanted to share this story I received from my friend Heather.

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 or coworker ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you may be set back on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly they return their focus to what's important. Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson as I sat 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, suddenly , a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches! The driver of the other car, who almost caused a big accident, whipped around and began yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved to him, being very friendly. So, I asked, "Why did you just do that? That guy almost ruined your car and sent us all to the hospital!"

The 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 and frustration; full of anger and disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. If you let them, they'll dump it on you! He said, "When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll behappier if you do.

There you have it: The "Law of the Garbage Truck." I started thinking, how often I let Garbage Trucks run over me and influence my day? And how often I take their garbage and spread it to others at work, home, and 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," when 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 allow it to affect me personally; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and 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. Pray for 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!