The Law of the Garbage Trucks {Insp}

"The Law of the Garbage Trucks"

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!
Received on Sun Jun 1 07:22:37 2008