From an email !!!
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 colleague ruin your day? Unless you're a robot,
you are bound to blow your top off. However, the mark of a
sucessful person is how quickly he or she can get back his
or 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 brakes, 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 really friendly. So, I said, 'Why did you 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 called,
'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. If they happen to dump it on you, don't take it
personally.
You just smile, wave, wish them well, and moved on. You'll
be happier if you did that rather than fight them.
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 on other people; at work, at home, on the street?
It was that day I said, 'I'm not going to do it anymore'. I
see garbage trucks everywhere and everyday. 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 they have to welcome their kids
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 just pass you by? Here's my bet. You'll be happier.
So...love the people who treat you right.
Forget about the ones who don't.
Believe that every thing 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
Have a great day !
'Life is short. Enjoy the journey.'
Cheers!
By David J. Pollay
