The Garbage Truck

I am sharing herewith a story sent by a friend (Ariel R.) from Canada....

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 she can get back her focus on what's important.

A year ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of taxi
cab in Cubao. Here's what happened.

I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for LRT Cubao Station. We were
driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a passenger jeepney
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 jeepney, 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 a work, at home,
on the streets? It was that day I said, "I'm not going to do
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 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.